Experimental and analytical investigations on the response of stiffened plates subjected to lateral collisions

Rational structural design of ships or offshore platforms against collisions requires prediction of the extent of damage to stiffened plates generated by lateral impact. In predicting the extent of collision damage, most researchers employ numerical analysis methods using commercial software packages. Like other structural problems, any nonlinear dynamic analysis methods should be substantiated with relevant test data prior to being employed for design. Unfortunately, full-scale collision tests on marine structures are very rare. Still, results from collision tests on marine structural elements can help to substantiate theoretical methods for collision analyses. Lateral collision test data for unstiffened plates are available, but it is difficult to find results from tests on stiffened plates in the open literature. In this paper, the results of lateral collision tests on 33 stiffened plates are reported, A simplified analytical method is developed for the prediction of the extent of damage to stiffened plates due to lateral collisions and this method is substantiated with the test results. Also proposed is a simple criterion with which the occurrence of crack damage can be judged. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.