Effect of corrosion on the ultimate strength of double hull oil tankers – Part I: stiffened panels

Age-related problems especially corrosion and fatigue are normally suffered by weatherworn ships and aging offshore structures. The effect of corrosion is one of the important factors in the Common Structural Rule (CSR) guideline of the ship design based on a 20 or 25 years design life. The aim of this research is the clarification of the corrosion effect on ultimate strength of stiffened panels on various types of double hull oil tankers. In the case of ships, corrosion is a phenomenon caused by the ambient environment and it has different characteristics depending on the parts involved. Extensive research considering these characteristic have already done by previous researchers. Based on this data, the ultimate strength behavior of stiffened panels for four double hull oil tankers such as VLCC, Suezmax, Aframax, and Panamax classes are compared and analyzed. By considering hogging and sagging bending moments, the stiffened panels of the deck, inner bottom and outer bottom located far away from neutral axis of ship are assessed. The results of this paper will be useful in evaluating the ultimate strength of an oil tanker subjected to corrosion. These results will be an informative example to check the effect of ultimate strength of a stiffened panel according to corrosion addition from CSR for a given type of ship.