Damage mechanics of FRP ship structures

Shenoi, R.A., Blake, J.I.R., Boyd, S. and Mawella, J. (2006) Damage mechanics of FRP ship structures. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Ship and Shipping Research, NAV 2006. Centro per gli Studi di Technica Navale. 15pp .

Abstract

Fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composite materials are being increasingly used in a variety of marine structural applications. Safe design of ships and boats made from these materials depends on accurately predicting their response and failure characteristics. The structural response and failure modes are influenced by the lamination sequence of the plates and stiffeners making up the structural topology. Furthermore, distinction needs to be made between local failure of the material in a part of the structure and the ultimate load at which a structure has arguably failed. This paper addresses the subject of progressive damage modelling of layered, stiffened monolithic FRP structures. The structural response is evaluated using non-linear finite element analysis with a special routine to define the failure modes and the progressive degradation of elastic properties with increasing damage levels. Examples covered include a plate, a bulkhead-hull connection and a tophat stiffener to plate connection.

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Contributors

Author: J.I.R. Blake

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