Direct calculation of fatigue damage of ship structure details

Paper i proceeding, 2011

Fatigue assessment of ships using the direct calculation approach has been investigated by numerous researchers. Normally, this approach is carried out as either a global model analysis, or as a local model structural analysis. The current investigation presents a case study of a container vessel where the global and local analyses procedures are combined. A nonlinear time-domain hydrodynamic analysis followed by a global FE analysis is employed to screen for the most severe locations of the global ship’s hull with regard to fatigue damage. Once these locations have been identified, a sub-modelling technique is employed to transfer global loads from the global FE model to local FE models that have high resolution of elements for local structure details. Results from a selection of local FE model simulations are presented. Stress concentration factors at four critical locations are calculated and compared with values recommended by classification guidelines. Results are presented from a short-term fatigue analysis which has been carried out using the rainflow counting method. Finally, a long-term fatigue analysis is performed in time-domain using a designed wave scatter diagram of representative sea states.