DESIGN ANALYSIS OF MULTISPHERE STRUCTURES UNDER EXTERNAL HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

Purpose of this study has been to analyze the effect of various materials and the structural design parameters on the weight to strength characteristics of multisphere structures under external hydrostatic pressure. The structure analysed consists of a multiple of intersecting spheres of equal radii. Concentric annular bulkheads have been used as reinforcement at the interactions. The ratio of the weight of the structure to the weight of the water displaced by the structure, W/delta, has been used as a factor of merit. In addition, the W/delta ratio of a multisphere structure to the W/delta ratio of a single sphere, w, has been used in analyzing parametric effects in a dimensionless form. Significant parameters have been systematically varied to investigate the effect of each parameter on the factors of merit. A computer program has been developed and used for the large amount of computation needed in this parametric study. The results have been presented in a graphical form. The selection of materials is of major importance for the weight to strength characteristics of a multisphere structure. The use of a high strength, light weight material in the bulkheads has significant influence on the resulting W/delta ratio. As the number of spheres in the configuration increases, the optimization of structural design parameters becomes increasingly important. The extent of a bulkhead opening is a parameter of major importance in the structural design. The effect of the separation between the centers of the spheres varies, depending on the combination of materials used in hull and bulkheads. This study provides useful guidelines for the design of multisphere structures under external hydrostatic pressure.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Ocean Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Tangen, H D
• Publication Date: 1972-5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Hulls; Openings; Shells (Structural forms); Vehicle design; Yield stress
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship design
• Old TRIS Terms: Hull openings; Spherical shells
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044161
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1973 12:00AM