IN-SERVICE PERFORMANCE OF STRUCTURAL DETAILS

This report includes the results of a structural detail survey of twelve families of approximately fifty different ships. Seven ship types were surveyed to determine whether or not predicted failures actually occurred. The families are beam brackets, tripping brackets, non-tight collars, tight collars, gunwale connections, knife edge crossings, miscellaneous cutouts, clearance cuts, deck cutouts, stanchion ends, stiffner ends, and panel stiffeners. Fifty-six groups evolved with a total of 553 observed variations in structural configuration. The data are synthesized by family groups. During the survey 490,210 details with 3,307 failures were observed. Eighty-two percent of the failures were in the cargo space and were predominately located in structure adjacent to the side shell. The remaining 18% were distributed, 10% forward and 8% aft of the cargo spaces. Feedback data of this type should be invaluable to design and repair offices. It depicts, with sketches and photographs, the variations of structural configurations and tabulates all of the data collected during the survey. As an aid to engineers and designers, failure causes such as design, fabrication, maintenance and operation are postulated. Systematic performance studies of this type should be conducted in all areas of ship construction.