Investigation of structural performance subjected to impact loading using finite element approach: case of ship-container collision

Abstract

AbstractTransporting mass products from one country to others is essential activities in industrial cycle. Ships are selected as reliable carriers for this objective considering traveling time and operational cost. During its operational, accidental events such as storm, high tide and bad weather may cause the products which are usually packed in freight containers fall into sea, and impacts the ship structure. In this situation, casualties on both involved structures can be detrimental. This work analyzes a series of ship-container collision in maritime territory in order to investigate resulting structural phenomena. The finite element approach is selected to solve the designed collision cases where the discussion is directed to selected crash-worthiness criteria. Impact speed between ship and container structures is chosen as the main parameter in the designed scenario by judging whether this parameter is a good representative of sea state. Overall results indicate that the indication for container rebounding after impact was high. It was followed by a significant increment of the internal energy after higher velocity, which was more than 5 m·s−1, had been applied to the scenario. Quantification of specific structural performance suggests that approximately more than 80% of the damage occurrs on the contacted area of the container structure.