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COSMOS helps cure freight ship cracking
in just one week
Company
Transmarine
Consultants |
Industry
Marine |
Location
U.K. |
Product Used
COSMOSM™ |
Type of Analysis
Linear Static
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More Details
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The area surrounding the structural
detail was modeled using SHELL4 (quadrilateral
4) elements
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The Challenge
Transmarine Consultants, a division of the MacGREGOR-NAVIRE Group
in England, was commissioned to identify the cause of structural
failures in a series of their freight ships. The ships suffered
serious cracking in the main deck strength member near the hatch
openings. A poorly designed structural detail for a hydraulic
cylinder support looked like the culprit.
The Solution
"Both the analysis and contracting of workmen had to
be carried out on an extremely tight timescale to fit the schedule
of each ship," said John Evans, managing consultant for the
project. "Our organization has a long history of solving
many types of structural problems, so we knew from experience
that the easiest and best way was by simulating the problem with
a finite element analysis system such as COSMOSM."
Linear static analysis indicated stress
concentrations in the areas where cracks actually formed. After
testing a number of alternative solutions, Transmarine found that
the method proposed by the owner would reduce stress only 15%.
The modification of the main deck stiffener suggested by Transmarine,
based on the analysis, resulted in a 32% reduction in stress.
All repairs were completed on schedule.
Summary and Metrics:
- The model, constructed of composite shell, solid, and beam
elements, had over 35,000 degrees of freedom
- 32% reduction in stress
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"The
project was conducted under an extremely tight timescale.
From the start of the analysis to submission of a solution
took only one week."
John Evans, Managing Consultant
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