An analytical method for evaluating the structural resistance of plate structures under in-plane impact load in ship-side collision scenarios

Ship collision accidents occur occasionally and it is of great significance to develop rapid prediction method for structural response. This paper proposes a new analytical method to predict the crushing resistance of the deck and bulkhead under head-on and oblique collision scenarios by a raked bow. The structural deformation modes of them are studied firstly through the numerical simulations and the analytical models are then established, respectively. In the analytical model, the deck structure is divided into four types of components and corresponding formulas are derived based on the upper-bound theorem of plastic deformation analysis. On the basis of theoretical analysis and statistical studies, a semi-analytical formula is also developed for predicting the structural resistance of the bulkhead under in-plane impact loads. The analytical method developed in this paper considers the damage evolution in different collision stages and the coupling effects from stiffeners. Through the comparative verification of multiple collision scenarios, the results of the newly proposed analytical method and semi-analytical formula are in good agreement with the numerical results. The research outcomes could highly benefit the engineering application for the damage assessment of plate structures in the case of head-on and oblique collision.