ABSTRACT
Severe structural damages can be caused by ship side collisions and bottom grounding. It is therefore necessary to explore the application of new materials and structures in the collision and grounding protection of ships, without compromising the overall performance of the vessel. A novel design of the side structure is proposed to enhance the collision resistance of double-hull vessels, inspired by an auxetic material with negative Poisson’s ratio. The compression properties and impact characteristics of auxetic materials are investigated through numerical simulations, providing a theoretical basis for enhancing the collision and grounding resistance of ship side structures. In addition, the mechanical performance of applying this design to the double-hull side structure is compared to that of the traditional design. The feasibility of utilizing this auxetic-inspired structure in the field of ship collision resistance has been demonstrated, with potential applications in other marine structures facing similar problems.
