Numéro : 2415 - Year : 2003

Knowledge limits in ship fatigue calculation

Michel HUTHER, Bureau Veritas - Division Marine – Paris (France)
Guy CESARINE, Bureau Veritas - Division Marine – Paris (France)

Since the beginning of the use of computers for the calculation of the ship structures in the 60's, enormous progresses have been noticed with in return the idea that the today IT means allow to solve any kind of problems. The aim of this paper is to remind the reality by analysing a domain actually of first importance, the cumulative fatigue of the ship structures.

After recalling the basic procedure of the fatigue verification of a structural detail, each step of this procedure is presented.

Then all steps and the methods are reviewed and analysed giving the present State of the Art and the existing uncertainties.

In conclusion, it is reminded that, if all computerised methods are today fundamental and improve the safety level of designs, one shall never forget that they are based on models which correspond to the knowledge level at a given time, that they are neither the exact image of the reality but include numerous simplifications and uncertainties. As a consequence, the engineer shall neither have a blind confidence in calculation results but shall have to remain critical and neither loss the physical sense of the things.

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