Ship Construction & Structural Analysis Course

Lesson 1 • Stability Fundamentals

Explains metacentric height, righting levers, and stability criteria. Stability requirements directly drive structural design decisions covered in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Ship Geometry and Hull Form

Introduces principal dimensions, form coefficients, and hull lines. Connects geometric literacy to all subsequent structural and stability analysis.

Lesson 3 • Ship Classification and Regulatory Framework

Surveys vessel types, classification society roles, and international construction standards. Establishes the compliance context governing all design and material choices.

Lesson 1 • Aluminum Alloys in Marine Construction

Covers marine-grade aluminum alloys, temper designations, and corrosion behavior. Aluminum's weight advantage and joining challenges are compared against steel.

Lesson 2 • Composite Materials and Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

Introduces glass, carbon, and aramid fiber composites used in hulls and superstructures. Anisotropic behavior and laminate theory are introduced for structural analysis.

Lesson 3 • Structural Steel Grades and Standards

Examines mild steel, high-tensile steel, and normalized grades used in hulls. Material grade selection directly affects scantling calculations in the next chapter.

Lesson 4 • Fatigue and Fracture in Marine Structures

Covers S-N curves, stress concentration factors, and fracture mechanics basics. Fatigue life prediction underpins structural detail design in subsequent chapters.

Lesson 1 • Shell Plating and Strake Arrangement

Details bottom, bilge, side, and sheer strake plating with thickness tapering. Shell plating is the primary watertight boundary and a key structural element.

Lesson 2 • Decks, Platforms, and Inner Bottom

Describes deck plating, hatch coamings, inner bottom plating, and platform decks. These surfaces carry cargo loads and contribute to hull girder section modulus.

Lesson 3 • Transverse Structural Members

Examines frames, floors, web frames, and transverse bulkheads as lateral stiffeners. Transverse members resist hydrostatic pressure and racking forces.

Lesson 4 • Superstructure and Deckhouse Construction

Covers superstructure tiers, deckhouse framing, and their interaction with the main hull. Superstructure contribution to hull girder strength is introduced here.

Lesson 1 • Combined and Special Framing Systems

Covers mixed framing where bottom is longitudinal and sides are transverse. Addresses container ships, RoRo vessels, and other specialized arrangements.

Lesson 2 • Structural Continuity and Load Paths

Explains how loads transfer through connections between primary members. Discontinuities cause stress concentrations that are analyzed in the structural analysis chapter.

Lesson 3 • Longitudinal Framing System

Examines closely spaced longitudinals supported by widely spaced web frames. Optimizes hull girder section modulus for large tankers and bulk carriers.

Lesson 4 • Transverse Framing System

Analyzes closely spaced transverse frames with longitudinal girders as the traditional arrangement. Suited to short vessels and those with frequent transverse loads.

Lesson 1 • Static Loads and Weight Distribution

Covers lightship weight, deadweight, and cargo load distribution along the hull. Static load cases form the baseline for all structural strength calculations.

Lesson 2 • Local Pressure Loads

Covers hydrostatic sea pressure, tank internal pressure, and cargo pressure on structure. Local loads size individual plates and stiffeners independent of global bending.

Lesson 3 • Load Combination and Design Cases

Explains how static and dynamic loads are combined into governing design load cases. Proper load combination prevents both over-design and unsafe under-design.

Lesson 4 • Wave-Induced Loads and Sea States

Introduces wave spectra, significant wave height, and wave-induced bending moments. Wave loads are the dominant dynamic input for hull girder design.

Lesson 1 • Buckling and Ultimate Strength

Covers elastic and inelastic plate buckling, column buckling, and progressive collapse. Ultimate strength analysis ensures the hull survives extreme load events.

Lesson 2 • Plate and Stiffener Scantling Methods

Sizes shell plating, deck plating, and stiffeners using pressure-based rule formulas. Scantling calculations link local load inputs from the previous chapter to member dimensions.

Lesson 3 • Longitudinal Strength Criteria

Applies permissible stress limits and required section modulus from classification rules. Students verify whether a proposed midship section meets minimum strength requirements.

Lesson 4 • Hull Girder as a Beam

Models the ship as a non-uniform beam under combined bending and shear. This analogy is the foundation for all longitudinal strength calculations.

Lesson 1 • Result Interpretation and Validation

Teaches stress contour reading, reaction force checks, and comparison with hand calculations. Validation against analytical solutions builds confidence in model accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Local Fine-Mesh Structural Analysis

Applies fine-mesh models to critical details such as bracket toes and hatch corners. Fine-mesh results feed directly into fatigue and fracture assessments.

Lesson 3 • Load Application and Boundary Conditions

Demonstrates correct application of hydrostatic, cargo, and inertial loads in FE models. Incorrect load application is the most common source of invalid FEA results.

Lesson 4 • Global Hull Girder FE Modeling

Covers coarse-mesh global models for hull girder bending and shear flow analysis. Global models identify high-stress regions requiring fine-mesh sub-models.

Lesson 1 • Structural Risk Assessment and Monitoring

Introduces risk-based inspection planning, structural health monitoring, and remaining life estimation. Proactive monitoring reduces unexpected failures and extends vessel service life.

Lesson 2 • Structural Repair Methods and Standards

Details insert plate renewal, crack arrest drilling, and stiffener replacement procedures. Repairs must restore original strength and comply with classification requirements.

Lesson 3 • Structural Degradation Mechanisms

Analyzes corrosion wastage, fatigue cracking, and deformation as primary degradation modes. Understanding degradation mechanisms guides inspection scope and frequency.

Lesson 4 • Non-Destructive Testing Methods

Covers ultrasonic thickness gauging, magnetic particle, dye penetrant, and radiographic testing. NDT method selection depends on defect type, location, and access constraints.