Shear Stresses in Bulk Carriers Due to Shear Loading

Abstract

A brief note is given on various components of the longitudinal vertical shearing force. The stillwater component is examined with particular emphasis on the effect of local cargo loading and the mechanism of shear load transmission. The main factors affecting the wave-induced and dynamic components are indicated and an approximate method is given for estimating the impulsive dynamic component. A method is then given for calculating the shear stress distribution over a typical section of a bulk carrier. The ship section is idealized by a simplified structural model comprising closed and open cells. The structural model retains all the geometrical properties of the original section. Two numerical examples are considered to examine the effect of ship section parameters on shear stress distribution. It is shown that:(i) High shear stresses may be developed in the side shell plating.(ii) The variation of ship section parameters has a negligible effect on the maximum shear stress and may have a significant local effect.(iii) The shear carrying capacity of a given ship section could be easily estimated. Alternatively, for a given shearing force, a "shear coefficient," representing shear capability, could be estimated.