An Analysis of the Ultimate Strength of Deck Structures Under In-Plane Loads
A step-by-step procedure for determining the mode of failure and the ultimate strength of ship deck structures under in-plane compressive loads is developed. A comparison of several analytical theories for the buckling strength of deck structures in the elastic and inelastic zones is presented and the reason for the approach taken at each step is explained. The final result is a simple flow chart for this procedure and an algorithm which is easily adapted to most computer systems. The procedure is compared with experimental results and a method for determining reasonable size factors of safety (or correction factors) to account for initial deflections, residual stresses, etc., is presented. An example coding in FORTRAN IV for use as a subroutine in larger programs, or as a simple program itself, is given. An example structure is solved to explain each of the steps of the procedure.