Wave Spectrum Based Fatigue Analysis for Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Aegean Sea

Abstract

In this study, wave spectrum based fatigue analyses are studied for Turkey's adjacent coastal seas by using Maestro finite element analyzing software. Palmgren-Miner's method is used to obtain the fatigue safe life time. Palmgren-Miner's method was selected for the fatigue analyses because of its good acceptance of data from almost all classification societies such as Germanischer Lloyd, the American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas, etc. The maximum stress regions of the structures are obtained by using finite element analyses, and the results are compared with the endurance limit of the Wöhler diagram of AA5059 H321 aluminum alloy. The wave characteristics table given in this article is used to obtain the number of cycles for each sea condition. By using the wave characteristics table, the wave lengths, wave speeds, and cycles are obtained. This study is performed to estimate the lifetimes of a semi-swath type coast guard boat and/or commercial yacht projects, which are produced by using AA5059 H321 aluminum alloy, under different sea environment conditions. Fatigue examinations are performed for both head seas and oblique seas.