Comparative Numerical Study on the Crashworthiness of Ship Structures

Ship collisions and groundings pose significant threats, leading to loss of life and environmental damage. The current paper explores the influence of structures topology and configuration on the crashworthiness of ship structures using numerical simulations. A benchmark double-hull design is used to validate the nonlinear finite element collision model and compared with conceptual alternatives including honeycomb, corrugated, and biconcave configurations. For each one, two different wall thickness were analysed, enabling an enhanced understanding of the trade-off between mass and energy absorption, which is crucial for lightweight structural design in marine applications. A nonlinear material model, based on true stress-strain curve, is adopted to simulate the plastic response and failure of mild steel and a validation of numerical model with experimental literature results is performed. A comparative analysis involving crashworthiness indexes was performed and results suggest that variations in cell wall thickness affect energy absorption and structural weight. Optimising cell topology, potentially through graded thickness or multi-material designs, presents opportunities to improve ship structural crashworthiness while balancing structural weight.