ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that reliability based inspections are a feasible technique for integrity management of ship structural details. It describes a framework for reliability based inspection planning for ship structures demonstrating the same for a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC). Reliability based inspection is a rational way for ensuring the effectiveness of the surveys. Using fracture mechanics based formulations; preparation of reliability based inspection plans has been demonstrated for VLCC structural details. Fracture mechanics based fatigue life is evaluated considering an initial semi-elliptical crack at the structural detail to be investigated for fatigue. Formulation and framework of the inspection plans based upon reliability techniques were described. Consideration of updating of the reliability upon events such as crack detection/non-detection was discussed with NDT and Visual Inspection techniques. The chapter explores the structural detail being investigated is the longitudinal stiffener connection to the transverse web-frame.
