Analysis of Global Load Effects in Catamarans
Relevant stresses and deformations resulting from longitudinal bending and torsion are calculated for a 60 m catamaran by a global finite-element model. The results are compared with results from prismatic beam theory modified to account for the effect of wide flanges and significant window openings typical for a catamaran hull. It is found that the global stresses are predicted with a reasonable accuracy for the initial design stage. In the present case, the effect of warping on shear stress due to torsional loading is moderate and can be neglected. However, this effect is strongly dependent on the vessel design and can be important for a vessel with narrower hulls and a superstructure that is lower relative to the total height.