Direct strength calculation of an aged single-bottom tanker during its towing in waves

Abstract

Large engineering structures like ships and other floating structures require reliable and complex computations to ensure their structural integrity over their lifetime. This work presents an analysis of the structural integrity of an aged single-bottom tanker during its towing from Croatia to a scrapheap in Turkey. The ship is subjected to wave loading (corresponding to the global response) and towing force (corresponding to the local response). Computations were performed by a general hydro-structure tool that combines a 3D finite element (FE) structural model and a 3D boundary element (BE) model based on the Rankine panel theory, according to the guidelines of the relevant classification society. Time domain simulations were performed to take account of Froude-Krylov nonlinearities for a wave determined within the Equivalent Design Wave (EDW) approach. After the calculation of wave loading and its transfer to the FE model of a ship structure, the stresses were calculated and compared with the allowable values. The local strength assessment of the ship forecastle deck structure was also performed, considering the prescribed towing force as an imposed load. Both the procedure and the used computational tools are general and can be applied to any kind of ship or other floating structure.