Abstract
Accurate prediction of loads on mechanical couplings is crucial in assessment of loads on coupled structures and in optimization of mechanical coupling design. In this paper, a contact element model is introduced to represent prismatic joints. A twofold pushing convoy in shallow water was taken for time domain numerical simulations in regular waves. The prismatic joints interconnecting the convoy bodies allowed relative heave and pitch motions of the bodies relative to each other. The articulation forces and body motions were compared to model basin measurements to assess the reliability of contact element model. The contact element model could simulate the prismatic joints efficiently and it provided a suitable method to idealize free and suppressed modes at articulation locations.
Highlights
The insatiable and continuous demand for higher capacity ships has always been an advancing force driving many technological fields of naval architecture
France regulated the inland vessels traveling to the Le Havre deep sea terminal [1] and Belgium released prescriptive rules for the inland vessels traveling between
After validation of contact element model in representing prismatic joints, we examined the efficiency of pretension
Summary
The insatiable and continuous demand for higher capacity ships has always been an advancing force driving many technological fields of naval architecture. Westerschelde and Belgian deep waters [2,3,4] Following these rules, PIANC (Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses) initiated a safety committee for such vessels, and UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) issued the Recommendations on Harmonized Europe-Wide Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation Vessels [1]. Common methods used in ship and offshore field to model hinge joints can generally be used for prismatic couplings. Lagrange multiplier method uses forces to treat coupling constraints. Penalty and Lagrange multiplier methods rely on determined internal forces to fulfill coupling constraints. Application of contact elements eliminates the necessity to incorporate articulation constraints as in Lagrange multiplier and generalized coordinate methods and does not require system linearity as in mode expansion method. Since these model test results have not been published in any scientific journals or conferences yet, a brief summary of the model tests was included in the validation section
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