Estimate of the ultimate load on structural members subjected to lateral loads

This paper examines plastic behavior of typical ship structures, specifically beams, grillages, and plates subjected to predominantly lateral loads. The ultimate loads, determined on the basis of the theorems of limit analysis [1,2], are evaluated using nonlinear finite-element plastic analysis. The relationships between analytical and finite-element models for prediction of ultimate loads of beams, stiffened panels, and grillages are illustrated. It has been shown that the ultimate loads, obtained from the theorems of limit analysis, can be successfully used for strength assessment of stiffened ship structures subjected to lateral loads. The effect of shear force on ultimate load is analyzed using the finite-element method. This paper confirms that in the case of beams and grillages under lateral loading, the ultimate load may characterize the threshold of the load at which a stiffened ship's structure fails by the development of excessive deflections. For plate elements, on the other hand, the plastic deflections represent the permissible limit of external load better than the ultimate limit load.