Sustainable Marine Structures

Simulation of Longitudinal Bulkheads on Very Large Crude Carrier Hull Cross-Sections and Their Effect on Ultimate Strength

Muhammad Zubair Muis Alie

Department of Ocean Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 92171, Indonesia

Sri Winda

Department of Ocean Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 92171, Indonesia

Andi Mursid Nugraha Arifuddin

Department of Naval Architecture, Institut Teknologi Kalimantan, Balikpapan 76115, Indonesia

Fredhi Agung Prasetyo

Research & Development Division, PT. Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (Persero), Jakarta 14320, Indonesia

Sukron Makmun

Research & Development Division, PT. Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (Persero), Jakarta 14320, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v8i3.3084

Received: 14 January 2026 | Revised: 11 May 2026 | Accepted: 30 June 2026 | Published Online: 7 July 2026

---

Abstract

A bulkhead is very useful for dividing the cargo hold into some compartments and strengthening the ultimate strength, especially in the longitudinal direction. Bulkheads greatly improve structural integrity, improve damage stability by reducing flooding, and lessen the free surface effect of liquid cargoes. Longitudinal bulkheads are essential structural elements in ships, especially for big vessels such as tankers and so on. The main function of a longitudinal bulkhead, which is a vertical partition that runs the length of a ship (fore and aft), is to greatly enhance the structural integrity and safety of the vessel through compartmentalization. In larger vessels like tankers and cargo ships, they are particularly important. The additional bulkhead makes it more potent for longitudinal strength. The objective of this study is to analyze the ultimate strength of ship construction by considering the bulkhead effect. A very large crude carrier (VLCC) is the target of the object to be analyzed. The existing condition of VLCC is used as the basis for the analysis. The VLCC's cross-section is assumed to stay flat throughout the progressive collapse. The numerical analysis is adopted and implemented into the Finite Element Method to analyze the ultimate strength of the VLCC under hogging and sagging conditions. The application of Multiple Point Constraint (MPC) is performed on the VLCC cross-section model. The material properties like density, Young’s modulus, yield strength and Poisson’s ratio are included in the model. The comparison of the ultimate strength in terms of the moment-rotation relationship is introduced in this study.

Keywords: Very Large Crude Carrier; Cross Section; Bulkhead Simulation; Ultimate Strength

---

References

[1] Rakowski, J., Guminiak, M., 2015. Non-linear vibration of Timoshenko beams by finite element method. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. 731. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15632/jtam-pl.53.3.731

[2] Li, D., Chen, Z., 2023. Advanced empirical formulae for the ultimate strength assessment of continuous hull plate under combined biaxial compression and lateral pressure. Engineering Structures. 285, 116041. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116041

[3] Quispe, J.P., Estefen, S.F., Lourenço De Souza, M.I., et al., 2022. Numerical and experimental analyses of ultimate longitudinal strength of a small-scale hull box girder. Marine Structures. 85, 103273. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marstruc.2022.103273

[4] Deng, H., Yuan, T., Gan, J., et al., 2022. Experimental and numerical investigations on the collapse behaviour of box type hull girder subjected to cyclic ultimate bending moment. Thin-Walled Structures. 175, 109204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2022.109204

[5] Shi, G., Gao, D., 2021. Model experiment of large superstructures’ influence on hull girder ultimate strength for cruise ships. Ocean Engineering. 222, 108626. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.108626

[6] Georgiadis, D.G., Samuelides, E.S., Straub, D., 2023. A Bayesian analysis for the quantification of strength model uncertainty factor of ship structures in ultimate limit state. Marine Structures. 92, 103495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marstruc.2023.103495

[7] Jagite, G., Bigot, F., Malenica, S., et al., 2022. Dynamic ultimate strength of a ultra-large container ship subjected to realistic loading scenarios. Marine Structures. 84, 103197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marstruc.2022.103197

[8] Babazadeh, A., Khedmati, M.R., 2021. Progressive collapse analysis of a bulk carrier hull girder under longitudinal vertical bending moment considering cracking damage. Ocean Engineering. 242, 110140. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.110140

[9] Grenda, M., Paczos, P., 2019. Experimental and numerical study of local stability of non-standard thin-walled channel beams. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. 57(3), 549–562. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15632/jtam-pl/109601

[10] Cong, P., Wang, X., Zhou, H., 2025. Scaling the response of box-shaped steel structures subjected to internal blast loading. Structures. 80, 109908. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2025.109908

[11] Yuan, K., Li, X., Peng, Y., et al., 2026. Cumulative damage effect of scaled hull model subjected to repeated underwater explosions. Thin-Walled Structures. 230, 115206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2026.115206

[12] Yin, Y., Shi, D., Huang, R., et al., 2026. Nonlinear dynamic response analysis and similarity conversion method for hull model experiments based on self-similar theory. Thin-Walled Structures. 227, 115036. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2026.115036

[13] Shi, G., Wang, D., Wang, F., 2025. Experimental investigation of the critical collapse behaviour of stiffened box girders under impact bending load. Structures. 79, 109440. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2025.109440

[14] Geng, X., Qin, D., 2025. Experimental study on ultimate bearing capacity of pre-cracked ship hull stiffened panel under low-cycle fatigue and accumulative plasticity coupling. International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. 17, 100688. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnaoe.2025.100688

[15] Park, S.-H., Yu, Y.-J., Cho, S.-R., et al., 2026. An experimental and numerical study on the hydrostatic collapse of a scaled HY-80 pressure hull. International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. 18, 100731. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnaoe.2025.100731

[16] Ma, H., Wang, Q., Wang, D., 2022. Scaling characteristics of the hull girder’s ultimate strength subjected to the combined hogging moment and bottom lateral pressure: An empirically modified scaling criterion. Ocean Engineering. 257, 111520. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.111520

[17] Wang, Z., Liu, X., Kong, X., et al., 2025. Geometrical distortion solution for the similarity design of box-girder subjected to longitudinal compression based on numerical and experimental analyses. Thin-Walled Structures. 212, 113200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2025.113200

[18] Yu, P., Zhang, R., Guo, H., et al., 2026. Numerical simulation study on the characteristics of wave induced loads of a 21000TEU ultra-large containership. International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. 18, 100756. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnaoe.2026.100756

[19] Wang, Y., Zeng, Q., Wei, P., et al., 2025. Buckling strength driven similarity method for hull girders under combined loads of bending and torsion. Thin-Walled Structures. 216, 113689. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2025.113689

[20] Kuznecovs, A., Ringsberg, J.W., Johnson, E., et al., 2020. Ultimate limit state analysis of a double-hull tanker subjected to biaxial bending in intact and collision-damaged conditions. Ocean Engineering. 209, 107519. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2020.107519

[21] Vu Van, T., Yang, P., Doan Van, T., 2018. Effect of uncertain factors on the hull girder ultimate vertical bending moment of bulk carriers. Ocean Engineering. 148, 161–168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.11.031

[22] Muis Alie, M.Z., Zakki, A.F., Setyawan, D., et al., 2026. Semi-Analytical Approach to Analyze the Hull Girder Ultimate Strength Considering the Influence of Side Hopper. International Journal of Technology. 17(1), 205–218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v17i1.8010

[23] Oterkus, S., Wang, B., Oterkus, E., et al., 2022. Structural Integrity Analysis of Containers Lost at Sea Using Finite Element Method. Sustainable Marine Structures. 4(2), 11–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v4i2.505

[24] Qin, Y., Wang, Y., Pang, F., et al., 2023. Vibration Isolation Characteristics of Impedance-balanced Ship Equipment Foundation under Unbalanced Excitation. Sustainable Marine Structures. 5(1), 37–47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v5i1.856

[25] Muis Alie, M.Z., 2016. Residual Strength Analysisof Asymmetrically Damaged Ship Hull GirderUsing Beam Finite Element Method. Makara Journal of Technology. 20(1), 7–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7454/mst.v20i1.3049

[26] Hughes, O.F., Paik, J.K., 2010. Ship Structural Analysis and Design. The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers: Alexandria, VA, USA.

[27] Zhao, N., Chen, B.-Q., Zhou, Y.-Q., et al., 2022. Experimental and numerical investigation on the ultimate strength of a ship hull girder model with deck openings. Marine Structures. 83, 103175. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marstruc.2022.103175