1992 · 35 citations · 0 references
EngineeringFatigue Strength AssessmentMechanical EngineeringMarine EngineeringStructural OptimizationShip StructuresStructural SteelStructural EngineeringWelding ProcessShip Structural DesignStructural Health MonitoringStructural DesignStructural ReliabilityWeld Pool SolidificationStrength Of ShipShip DesignStructural AnalysisStructural Stress ApproachStructural MechanicsConstruction Engineering
Details of ship structures are characterised by a relatively complex geometry, showing a large variety in shape and plate thickness. These particulars make the fatigue strength assessment rather difficult, especially if the common nominal stress approach based on standard notch cases is applied. Local approaches can help overcome these difficulties. The hot-spot or structural stress approach is particularly well suited in view of the large number of different details in ships and the short time available for structural design. With regard to practical application, several problems have been investigated concerning the numerical evaluation of hot-spot stresses and their assessment with respect to fatigue strength, being described and discussed in the paper. Different examples of structural details illustrate the problems and solutions found. The investigations result in proposals for a general application of the hot-spot stress approach in ship structural design, being advantageous particularly in those cases, where no experience is existing or where structural details are optimised with respect to fatigue strength.