Sensitivity analysis of the influence of damaged location on mid-ship section of an Aluminum super slender catamaran(HARTH vessel)

Metal sheets are essential parts in structures such as hulls and offshore oil platforms. These sheets are typically exposed to axial compressive forces. Hence one of the main mechanisms for failure and collapse of such structures is buckling of sheets. Thus for a safe and reliable design, buckling strength of sheets should be evaluated. Finite element analysis techniques are perfect tools for this purpose, as they are of high speed and accuracy as well as flexibility for performing simulations with different variables.The ship structures are at risk of taking damages in many ways. The damage area can be of different locations and shapes. In the current study strength of aluminum damaged sheets has been studied using finite element analysis software. It was found that the closer the damage location to the edges of aluminum plates, the lower strength of plate under buckling due to decrease in effective width. Also it was found that as long as the width of damages are constant, the shape of damages have minor effect on strength of plates. In order to study the buckling behavior of a combination of plates and stiffeners in intacted and damaged conditions, a mid-ship section of a novel aluminum super slender catamaran(HARTH vessel) is modeled under bending moment. It was observed that, if damages are located on deck and bottom area, the total strength is decreased significantly .