Non-linear buckling analysis of ship hull stiffened panels

Abstract

Stiffened panels are crucial in maritime applications, where buckling is a primary structural failure concern. Typically, assessing the buckling capacity of these panels relies on established guidelines like DNV-RP-C201 and NS-EN 1993-1-5. Alternatively, non-linear finite element methods, guided by DNV-RP-C208, can be used. However, there’s a significant research gap in calibrating buckling capacities for large ship-hull stiffened panels. This paper bridges that gap by employing non-linear finite element analysis to evaluate the buckling capacity of ship hull stiffened panels and compare the results with DNV-RP-C201. It establishes a capacity benchmark by thoroughly comparing results for a plated panel. Subsequently, it develops a validated model using ABAQUS, introducing material and geometric nonlinearities, including a mid-stiffener span imperfection ranging from 0.06% to 1% of the stiffener span length for 99.7% calibration. The validated non-linear model then assesses the impact of holes on buckling capacity under uniaxial and gravity loads, revealing a clear correlation between reduced buckling capacity.