THE PRELIMINARY FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING OF A FULL SHIP

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rozbicki, M. | Das, P.K. | Crow, A.

Affiliations: Ship Design and Research Centre, Poland | Professor of Marine Structures, Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, University of Glasgow, Scotland | Chief Structural Design Engineer, BAe Systems, Glasgow, Scotland

Abstract: The importance of new technologies for first-principles-based preliminary design is critical in the development of economic growth. The cost content of ships fixed in the design process grows enormously rapidly in the early stages of design; it has been estimated that over three quarters of the cost content of a ship can be fixed in the first few weeks of the design process. It is thus vitally important that preliminary design must be carried out using rapid, robust, reliable and flexible analysis tools in the context of design methodology. The paper describes a data preparation process and finite element analysis for the longitudinal strength of a ship's hull structure at the preliminary design stage. The methodology presented aims to shorten the process of Finite Element model generation. It can be achieved through the simplification of the model and by increasing automation of the process by development of proper software. Both these methods were examined and applied and useful guidelines and remarks are given for the data preparation of a FE model for a full ship.

Journal: International Shipbuilding Progress, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 213-225, 2001