Sustainable Marine Structures

Structural Integrity Analysis of Containers Lost at Sea Using Finite Element Method

Selda Oterkus

PeriDynamics Research Centre, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Bingquan Wang

PeriDynamics Research Centre, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Erkan Oterkus

PeriDynamics Research Centre, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Yakubu Kasimu Galadima

PeriDynamics Research Centre, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Margot Cocard

PeriDynamics Research Centre, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Stefanos Stefanos

Buckley Yacht Design Ltd, New Milton, UK

Jami Buckley

Buckley Yacht Design Ltd, New Milton, UK

Callum McCullough

M Subs Limited, Plymouth, UK

Dhruv Boruah

Oceanways Technologies Ltd, London

Bob Gilchrist

Oceanways Technologies Ltd, London, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v4i2.505

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Abstract

Unlike traditional transportation, container transportation is a relatively new logistics transportation mode. Shipping containers lost at sea have raised safety concerns. In this study, finite element analysis of containers subjected to hydrostatic pressure, using commercial software ANSYS APDL was performed. A computer model that can reasonably predict the state of an ISO cargo shipping container was developed. The von Mises stress distribution of the container was determined and the yield strength was adopted as the failure criterion. Numerical investigations showed that the conventional ship container cannot withstand hydrostatic pressure in deep water conditions. A strengthened container option was considered for the container to retain its structural integrity in water conditions.

Keywords: Container; Finite Element Method; Structural Integrity; Sea

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