Pipelay Vessel Structural Analysis
Need for this analysis
The structural design and strength of the aft part of a S-lay installation vessel has been evaluated by performing comprehensive Finite Element Analysis using ANSYS software and design check against ABS guidance for certification of cranes.
Our analysis method
In the analysis, aft main structural components (hull, bulkheads, longitudinal bottom girders, web frames and decks) lying between transom and frame are considered along with main insert plates (near hitch locations) and cut-outs (with square corners). The area plot of all the modelled components are presented in the below figures.
The modelled aft part of the vessel is meshed using 4-node SHELL 181 element by maintaining aspect ratio (the ratio of a longer side to a shorter side) in the range 1 to 2.
Results
Considering the complex design of the vessel structure, 1st a CAD model was created in SolidWorks. The geometry was then imported in iges format into ANSYS and mesh was created and solved after applying appropriate loadings and boundary conditions. The sample results showing von-misses distribution of various components are shown in figures below.
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