Deformation behavior of a stiffened panel subjected to underwater shock loading using the non-linear finite element method

Given the superior strength-to-weight ratio, stiffened panels have been used extensively in the main structure of ships and underwater vehicles. The loads acting on a stiffened panel in a ship is in-plane compression or tension, resulting from the overall hull-girder bending moment or torsion, shear force resulting from the hull-girder shear force, and lateral pressure resulting from the external wave or shock loading. This work addresses the transient responses of a panel structure reinforced by ribs of different sizes to underwater shock loads using non-linear finite element code-ABAQUS. Verification of the reliability was made between the Ramajeyathilagam’s experiments results [Ramajeyathilagam K, Vendhan CP, Rao VB. Non-linear transient dynamic response of rectangular plates under shock loading. Int J Impact Eng 2000;24:999–1015, Ramajeyathilagam K, Vendhan CP. Deformation and rupture of thin rectangular plates subjected to underwater shock. Int J Impact Eng 2004;30:699–719] at several different locations on the plates. The shock factor is adopted to describe the shock severity. Additionally, the displacement–time histories under different shock loadings are presented which will be used in designing stiffened panels so as to enhance resistance to underwater shock damage.