Simplified Analytical Calculation and Modification of the Crushing Forces of Intersection Units in Vessel-Bridge Collisions

Abstract Because of the increasingly busy maritime trade, the number of bridges damaged by ship-bridge collision also increases. In order to reduce the serious losses caused by ship-bridge collision incidents, it is necessary to make a rapid estimation of ship collision forces. The simplified analytical formulas can be used to rapidly evaluate the collision force in ship collision accidents, but it is found that the existing simplified formulas are only applicable to bulb structures including small-angle inclined elements and not suitable for large-angle inclined elements which exist in ship-bridge collision. In this paper, the quasi-static crushing simulation of the bulbous structure with small-angle inclined angle elements is carried out, and the applicability of the simplified analytical formula of the intersection unit to the typical structure is verified. By comparing the simplified analytical results of the bow with the quasi-static simulation results and the ratio of the strength reduction factor to the effective crushing distance, it is found that the inclined angle of the inclined element will affect the impact force of the simplified analytical calculation. Then, finite element analysis of the truncated-type intersection structure with different element inclination angles are carried out, and the results show that the existing simplified analytical formula is no longer suitable for the calculation of collision force when the inclined angle is greater than 40°. For this reason, the existing simplified analytical formulas are modified for the large-angle inclined elements, and it can provide a certain reference calculation value for the collision force of vessel-bridge collision which includes large-angle inclined elements.