STUDY OF THE NONLINEAR RESPONSES OF A SUBMERSIBLE PRESSURE HULL

A submarine pressure hull normally experiences hydrostatic pressure at different operating depths and, during wartime, it bears shock loadin g produced by underwater explosions. In this study we examine the tran sient dynamic responses of a typical submarine hull subjected to hydro static pressure and shock loading, in which geometrically large deform ation effects involving elastoplastic material behavior are considered . The finite element procedure based on Hibbitt and Karisson's methodo logy is used to analyze the nonlinear response of the entire pressure hull. From the numerical results of a nonlinear static analysis under operating depth hydrostatic pressure, we attempt to provide the maximu m operating depth at which the behavior varies from elastic to plastic . In transient dynamic analysis under shock environment, this study no t only presents the elastoplastic response of the structure but also t he critical region of the model. Finally, the implications of these re sults for future submarine design and maintenance are discussed. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.