ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the reduction of compressive strength of the double bottom of a bulk carrier through the finite element method. It introduces a method that account for the effect of such reduction on strength in estimated ultimate longitudinal strength of the ship under hogging conditions, by quantifying the negative impact on it. As expected, the increase of the double bottom lateral restraints increases the compressive strength and the compressive strength degradation with lateral pressure decreases. The degradation of the strength is linear and depends on the degree of support provided by bilge and longitudinal bulkhead or ship’s side. The alternate bending of the bottom’ structure of a ship as a result of the action of external pressure due to the sea and the internal loading in alternate holds, causes a bending of secondary order between the transversal bulkheads which overlaps the primary bending of the hull girder of the ship.
