Analysis of warping and shear stresses for ship structures - Theoretical developments and numerical applications.

The problem of the elastic equilibrium of the hull girder subjected to bending, shear and torque loads is discussed, in order to highlight, and in some cases eliminate, the assumptions and approximations of the classical theories. In particular: the Mandarino's bending-shear theory is applied to account for the influence of the branch curvature on the normal and tangential stress fields; a new bending-shear theory for thin-walled beams, based on the Saint-Venant's displacement field and so removing the Vlasov's assumption of maintenance of the cross section contour, is proposed; the problem of a ship with large hatch openings subjected to a variable torque is analyzed, paying due account to the role of transverse bulkheads; the mixed flexure-torque theory developed by Burgoyne and Brown is extended to beams with ship-like multiconnected cross section, where the indefinite equilibrium equation along the beam axis is imposed; the clamped orthotropic plate response has been determined and numerical results are summarized in design charts similar to those ones given by Schade.