Adoption of a Radiused Hopper Knuckle: Recommendations for Design and Fabrication

摘要

The use of a radiused or bent hopper knuckle with no offset between the longitudinal girder and the knuckle line (aligned radiused hopper knuckle) was proposed by DAEWOO Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) as a design alternative to a conventional welded hopper knuckle for a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC). Extensive numerical and experimental studies were carried out within Phase I of a Joint DSME/Lloyd's Register Project to ensure good fatigue performance of the aligned hopper knuckle.