Coarse mesh finite element model for cruise ship global and local vibration analysis

This paper presents a practical procedure for creating finite element (FE) model for vibration analysis of cruise ships. The most preferable FE modelling approaches are studied and discussed through case studies of common ship structures, which cover the range from low to high frequencies. The application of homogenized equivalent single layer (ESL) theory based equivalent element for stiffened panel is extended to local forced vibration analysis, where inertia induced interaction between plate and stiffener occurs. Modal method is used with an energy-based correction for accounting the plate-stiffener interaction into modal properties. Case study results reveal that mesh density of one 4-node element per web frame spacing is suitable for global FE-model when vibration analysis is limited to global hull girder modes. For such modes it is sufficient to only include the membrane stiffness of stiffened panels. For investigating the response at higher frequencies, bending properties of stiffened panel should be included and mesh density should be at least two elements per web frame spacing. Then forced vibration analysis can be performed with an excellent accuracy up to frequencies about one third of the local plate natural frequencies between the stiffeners. Beyond that, the influence of the local plate vibration becomes more significant in panel vibration, making the ESL-theory based element limited. With the applied correction method, the validity of the ESL-model can be extended to approximately two thirds of the local plate natural frequency.