Deformation process of web girders in small-scale tanker double hull structures subjected to lateral impact

Experimental drop weight impact tests are performed to examine the dynamic response of web girders in a one-tenth scaled tanker double hull structure struck laterally by a knife edge indenter. The small stiffeners of the full-scale prototype are smeared in the small-scale specimen by increasing the thicknesses of the corresponding plates. The plastic response is evaluated at two impact velocities and the impact location is chosen between two web frames to assure damage to the outer shell plating and the stringers. The laboratory results are compared with numerical simulations performed by the LS-DYNA finite element solver. In the simulations, the strain hardening of the material is defined using experimental data of quasi-static tension tests and the strain rate sensitivity is evaluated using standard coefficients of the Cowper–Symonds constitutive model. The experimental permanent deflection and shape of the deformation show a good agreement with the collision simulations. It is found that the crushing resistance of the specimens is determined by the deformation mechanism of the stringers. Thus, the deformation process is described and compared with theoretical deformation modes for web girders subjected to large in-plane quasi-static loads. Additionally, the influence of the stiffeners on the shape of the deformation of the stringers is illustrated through simulations of stiffened structural elements.