Progressive Collapse Method For Ultimate Hull Girder Strength Assessment

This Memorandum provides a description of the theory and use of the progressive collapse method (PCM) for deterministic evaluation of a ship's hull girder ultimate strength. Bi-axial ultimate strength is considered, in which bending of a ship can occur about any axis in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Two algorithms are examined for determining the ultimate strength: moment-curvature analysis, in which curvature incrementing is used, and bi-axiaf strength analysis, in which moment incrementing is used.