Structural design and analysis of a large ‘open type’ livestock carrier

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Abstract
‘Open type’ livestock carriers are multi-deck ships characterised by the large openings in the superstructure side shell and with the absence of transverse and longitudinal bulkheads in the superstructure. The height of the superstructure is approximately equal to the height of the lower hull and the influence of hull-superstructure interaction on longitudinal strength is very important and should be taken into consideration during determination of the structural scantlings in very early design phase. This kind of ship topology generates two main structural challenges in: (1) longitudinal strength due to partially effective participation of the superstructure in global hull girder bending and (2) transverse/racking strength due to absence of transverse bulkheads in the superstructure. Since relatively small number of vessels of this kind currently exists, their specific structural aspects are poorly documented in the literature. This paper discusses and highlights basic challenges in the structural design and analysis of the ‘open type’ livestock carriers, using ULJANIK shipyard Newbuilding 526 as an example.