ABSTRACT
Previous work on blast-loaded ship panels, from an IED of just 4 kg TNT equivalent, revealed a negative reliability index value of −0.05 (Pahos & Das, 2008). As this is deemed to be unacceptable given today’s safety standards for ship structures, it was to an undetermined degree anticipated, considering that traditional ship panels commonly found throughout merchant vessels are not designed to withstand blast loads. Moving along the lines of preemptiveness and risk-based design, the next step forward was to identify what decision-makers need to do in order to raise the reliability index of ship panels, and subsequently mitigate blast effects. Taken into consideration the unavoidable manufacturing-induced distortions that degrade the strength of ship panels, a sensitivity analysis of the blast-loaded system revealed the most contributive strength variables considering the arisen stresses (Pahos & Das, 2008). Solicitous attention to detail was given so that existing scantlings would be increased, and consequently raise the reliability index. Further research concluded that for a typical stiffened
panel, loaded by the impulse of a 4 kg PETN (Pentaerythritol TetraNitrate) IED, the required increase for positive, and what is deemed to be a satisfactory reliability index of 1.5, is given in Table 1 known as RBVRs (Pahos & Das, 2009).
