The article describes structural optimization applied to the minimum weight design of corrugated transverse bulkheads made of the duplex stainless steel. The study presented in this paper was carried out within the EU FP6 project IMPROVE as a sub-task of multi-level structural optimization that was performed with the aim of development of a new innovative design of chemicaltanker. This task can result in large benefi ts, because the unit price of duplex stainless steel is very high (5000 ÷ 6000 €/tons), and even the small savings of material can result in signifi cant cost savings. Corrugated transverse bulkhead structure of chemical tanker (CT) was developed, analyzed and optimized using partial 3D FEM model, with the objective to achieve improved and competitive design. Two types of corrugations: (1) horizontal-HC and (2) vertical-VC, were investigated, optimized and compared to enable rational selection of the preferred design. Final solutions, satisfying all structural constraints, resulted in 7% savings in structural mass. The total savings (fi ve duplex-steel made transverse bulkheads) of about 25 t can be expected with the cost benefi t of up to € 150 000.
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