On the Development of the Generalized Slope Deflection Method for the Analysis and Design of Ship Structures

For the analysis and design of ship structures the generalized slope deflection method(GSDM) taking account of axial elongation effect as well as the bending and shearing deformation is developed. Using the span point concept, the existing slope deflection method is easy to transform the variable section to the equivalent uniform one under the bending moment and the shear force, but it is difficult to analyze the web frame with inclined members because the axial deformation effect is not considered. In the present method, the equilibrium conditions including all force components(i.e. axial force, shear force, bending moment) are formulated at the both ends of the variable section beam, such that the usual space frame stiffness equation which can be solved easily by the matrix method is derived. The accuracy and applicability of the present method is demonstrated by analyzing the ship web frame structures.