Influence of different wave load sequence models on fatigue life prediction of ship structures based on fracture mechanics approach

Paper in proceeding, 2016

FCP (Fatigue Crack Propagation) based fatigue assessments of a welded joint in a 2800 TEU container ship which sails on North Atlantic routes are performed. The Great-circle course with small variation of relative heading angle and a southerly course with large variation of relative heading angle are considered. Short sea sequences are generated by using ‘storm model’ developed by Osaka University and ‘spatio-temporal model’ developed by Chalmers University. Sea keeping analyses are performed for both cases wherein the variation in wave direction’s occurrence probability is considered (‘real headings model’) or not (‘all-headings model’). FCP analyses are performed considering plasticity-induced crack closure by using FASTRAN-II. Fatigue crack propagation lives and characteristics of crack propagation retardation due to excessive loads are compared. Based these results, the influence of the difference in load sequence model on FCP-based fatigue assessment result is discussed.