Topic 3: HULL STRUCTURE

Hull Structure
-

Hull is known as the foundation of the ship. It withstands extremely harsh climatic
and weather conditions. Hull should be designed in such a way that it is not
affected by the different forces that acts on it while the ship is sailing.

The hull is one part of the ship that requires extra concern during design and
construction. In the history of naval architecture, hull designs has evolved over a
period of time, from CYLINDRICAL WOODEN SHANKS

To STEEL COLUMNS

Engineers have been continuously innovating hull designs to provide greater

structural strength. As hull is continuously in contact with water, it is under the
effect of different types of forces acting at the same time. Not only that, a hull
requires high durability and resistance to prevent structural damage in case of
collision or grounding.

Naval architects use different methods for hull construction keeping in mind the
purpose and type of ship.

The structure of the hull varies depending on:

-

the vessel type. In a typical modern steel ship, the structure consists of watertight
and non-tight decks, major transverse and watertight (and also sometimes nontight or longitudinal) members called bulkheads, intermediate members such
as girders stringers

and webs, and minor members called ordinary transverse frames, frames, or
longitudinals, depending on the structural arrangement.

The uppermost continuous deck may be called the "upper deck", "weather deck",
"spar deck", "main deck", or simply "deck". The particular name given depends on
the contextthe type of ship or boat, the arrangement, or even where it sails. Not
all hulls are decked (for instance a dinghy).

In a typical wooden sailboat, the hull is constructed of wooden planking, supported

by transverse frames (often referred to as ribs) and bulkheads, which are further
tied together by longitudinal stringers or ceiling. Often but not always there is a
centerline longitudinal member called a keel.

TYPES OF HULL:
MONOHULL
-

is a type of boat having only one hull, unlike multihulled boats which can have two
or more individual hulls connected to one another.

TUNNEL HULL
-

is a type of boat hull that uses two typically planing hulls with a solid centre that
traps air.

PADDED V-HULL
-

is a type of high performance watercraft.

The two main methods that are used for hull construction are :
1. TRANSVERSE FRAMING

2. LONGITUDINAL FRAMING

CONSTRUCTION OF A HULL

SKIN
-

The skin, or shell plating, provides water-tightness. The plates, the principal
strength members of a ship, have various thickness.

STRAKE NAMES
-

The bottom row of strakes on either side of the keel, are called garboard strakes.
The strakes at the turn of the hull, running in the bilge, are bilge strakes. The
strakes running between the garboard and bilge strakes are called bottom strakes
and the topmost strakes of the hull are sheer strakes. The upper edge of the sheer
strake is the gunwale.

BULKHEADS
-

The interior of the ship is divided by the bulkheads and decks into watertight
compartments. Engine rooms must be large enough to accommodate bulky
machinery. Cargo spaces must be large enough to hold large equipment and
containers.

ENGINE ROOM
-

The engine room is a separate compartment containing the propulsion machinery

of the vessel. Depending on the size and type of propulsion machinery, other
vessel machinery may be located there (such as generators, pumping systems,
evaporators, and condensers for making fresh water).

EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE HULL

-

The waterline is the water-level line on the hull when afloat. The vertical distance
from the waterline to the edge of the lowest outside deck is called the freeboard.
The vertical distance from the waterline to the bottom of the keel is called the draft.
The waterline, draft, and freeboard will change with the weight of the cargo and
provisions carried by the ship. The draft of the ship is measured in feet and inches.
Numbered scales are painted on the side of the ship at the bow and stern.

NAMES OF DECKS

The decks aboard ship are the same as the floors in a house. The main deck is
the first continuous watertight deck that runs from the bow to the stern. In many
instances, the weather deck and the main deck may be one and the same. Any
partial deck above the main deck is named according to its location on the ship. At
the bow it is called a forecastle deck, amidships it is an upper deck, and at the
stern it is called the poop deck. The term weather deck includes all parts of the
forecastle, main, upper, and poop decks exposed to the weather. Any structure
built above the weather deck is called superstructure.

Locations and Directions Aboard Ship

Steel Channel Section

-

a flat timber or metal ledge projecting from the hull of a vessel above the
chainplates to increase the angle of the shrouds

U-channel
1.Material:Q195,Q235,Q345,Q215
2.Height:20-150mm
3.Width:50-300mm
4.Thickness:1.5-6mm
Usage: building structures, vehicles, manufacturing and other industrial structure.

Double Bottom Structure for Longitudinal and Transverse Framing

OFFSET-BULB PLATE

Offsets- counteract by having an equal and opposite force or effect.

Bulb Plate a structural metal plate reinforced by a thickening on one edge.

Plate Floor
-

These are plates very similar to the water tight floors, but having lightening holes
cut in them,

BRACKET FLOOR
-

fitted between plate floors to provide support for the tank top.

Standard Steel Sections:

Flat Plate, Offset-bulb Plate, Equal Angle, Unequal Angle, Channel, Tee

Double Bottom
-

is a construction method used in the construction of a ship. The double bottom

space is formed by fitting of additional plating above the bottom plating, extending
from side to side and over most of the length of the vessel. The inner bottom plating
is called the Tank Top is constructed to provide a watertight space below it. This
watertight space is called a double bottom dry cargo ships and bulk carriers are
fitted with double bottoms. Many tankers are also being constructed with these
structural arrangements.