ABSTRACT
Ship’s longitudinal load carrying capacity is commonly expressed in terms of the maximum bending moment attainable at the transverse cross section of the critical longitudinal structural segment. If intensity of the flexural load imposed on the hull girder exceeds this ultimate load carrying capacity level, occurrence of the inter-frame collapse is considered to be imminent, meaning that flexural stiffness of the critical longitudinal segment has been significantly reduced due to the progressive depletion of the load carrying capacity of the longitudinal structural components. Progressive collapse of the longitudinal structural components can be induced either by yielding or buckling. Longitudinal structural segment(s) whose position coincides with the position of the maximum bending moment is commonly identified as the critical segment and the change of its load carrying ability during the progressive increase of the flexural load intensity is evaluated.
