Analytical Prediction of Progressive Structural Failure of a Damaged Ship for Rapid Response Damage Assessment

Abstract

The assessment of the residual strength of a damaged ship is a key element of ABS’ Rapid Response Damage Assessment (RRDA) program. When determining the residual strength, it is important to understand how the initial structural damage can spread in response to sea wave dynamic loads and can lead to a gradual reduction of the ship’s residual strength. This progressive, time-dependent structural failure caused by cracks emanating from the damaged area could eventually lead to total hull girder collapse. This is why it is important to quantify the progressive structural failure over time when assessing the residual strength of the damaged ship. Until now, progressive structural failure analysis has been conducted numerically using the Finite Element (FE) modeling approach. While this approach is accurate, it is extremely time-consuming, which makes it inappropriate for incident response, where time for decision-making is very limited. In order to overcome this limitation, an alternative analytical modeling approach for assessing the progressive structural failure of a damaged ship is proposed. This paper presents a new comprehensive procedure for analytical prediction of crack propagation under sea wave loading using spectral fatigue analysis, beam theory, fracture mechanics and an equivalent stress intensity factor (SIF) range concept. The SIF range obtained analytically is validated by FE modeling of a damaged ship subjected to sea wave dynamic loading. The procedure for analytical prediction of the crack propagation is demonstrated for a typical, modern 170,000 DWT bulk carrier in a full load condition. The results of this research can be used to support informed decision-making when analyzing a vessel’s residual strength for the transit voyage from the accident location to a repair facility.

Common Case Studies of Marine Structural Failures

“…Analytical methods have been developed for prediction of progressive structural failures of marine structures [30]. The inite element modeling approach for prediction of the development of failures is accurate, but can be time consuming.…”