Structural Design of Transverse Bulkhead of a Handymax Bulk Carrier Built in Steel Sandwich Panels

Abstract

New solutions and technologies offering the viable alternatives to the classical ship structures are permanently searched in the shipbuilding industry. The alternatives to the classical structures offer weight, cost and energy consumption reduction. One of the potential options is all-steel sandwich (corrugated core) panels, developed originally by Meyerwerft Shipyard. Possibilities of implementation of these structural components in a bulk-carrier’s structure are investigated in the present dissertation. The concept of the sandwich panels, technology and state-of-the-art are presented. Structural layout of several different configurations was investigated with the focus on the weight calculation and structural applicability, strength and technological aspects; each configuration with different properties and layout. The most promising configuration was selected from these observations; keeping on mind various design variables. The selected option finally consists of a double steel sandwich structure with spacing elements placed in between. The design developed in the dissertation was compared to the classical corrugated bulkhead. Furthermore, the structural response of selected design was investigated and the structural capacity was verified by finite element method. Overall behavior of the structure is checked. The final remarks and comments of obtained results were given, including possible improvements and recommendations.