Reliability Analysis of Ultimate Strength of a Capesize Bulk Carrier in Hogging and Alternate Hold Loading Condition
This paper deals with the structural reliability analysis (SRA) of ultimate strength of a Capesize bulk carrier in hogging and alternate hold loading condition (AHL). The ultimate strength in hogging and AHL condition is very important for the safety of bulk carriers since the local loads due to internal cargo loads and external sea pressure can reduce the ultimate bending capacity. In the present paper, the characteristic ultimate bending capacity of the subject bulk carrier is investigated by nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis and the characteristic value of the global and local loads are determined in accordance with the Common Structural Rules for bulk carriers (CSR-BC). The uncertainties associated with the loading capacity and load effects are appropriately modelled. The First Order Reliability Method (FORM) is adopted to calculate the annual probability of failure of this bulk carrier in hogging and AHL condition. The effect of heavy weather avoidance on the global and local loads is also evaluated in the SRA. The results show that the local loads have a significant impact on the failure probability of such vessels in the hogging and AHL condition.