In this special issue the naval engineers journal features reliability-based load and resistance factor design (LRFD)guidelines for surface ship structures

摘要

For many centuries, ship structural design has been accomplished under conditions of uncertainty about materials, load, struc- tural behavior, and failure modes. Structural engineers traditionally use factors of safety to deal with uncertainty and produce acceptable designs. Existing Navy design practice is documented in design data sheets, the Navy's surface ship structural design manual, and ship specifications. The collection of papers presented in this special issue provides an insight into advancing the state-of-art of Navy structural design by rational and purposeful treatment of uncertainty. Partial safety factors are used for various design variables instead of a single safety factor as currently employed.