Simulation of Longitudinal Bulkheads on Very Large Crude Carrier Hull Cross-Sections and Their Effect on Ultimate Strength
Department of Ocean Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 92171, Indonesia
Sri Winda
Hasanuddin University
Mursid
Insttitut Teknologi Kalimantan
Fredhi Agung Prasetyo
PT. Biro Klasifikasi Inonesia (Persero)
Sukron Makmun
PT. Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (Persero)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v8i3.3084
Received: 14 January 2026; Published: 8 July 2026
Copyright © 2026 Muhammad Zubair Muis Alie, Sri Winda, Mursid, Fredhi Agung Prasetyo, Sukron Makmun. Published by Nan Yang Academy of Sciences Pte. Ltd..
Abstract
A bulkhead is very useful for dividing the cargo hold into some compartments and strengthening the ultimate strength, especially in the longitudinal direction. Bulkheads greatly improve structural integrity, improve damage stability by reducing flooding, and lessen the free surface effect of liquid cargoes. Longitudinal bulkheads are essential structural elements in ships, especially for big vessels such as tankers and so on. The main function of a longitudinal bulkhead, which is a vertical partition that runs the length of a ship (fore and aft), is to greatly enhance the structural integrity and safety of the vessel through compartmentalization. In larger vessels like tankers and cargo ships, they are particularly important. The additional bulkhead makes it more potent for longitudinal strength. The objective of this study is to analyze the ultimate strength of ship construction by considering the bulkhead effect. A very large crude carrier (VLCC) is the target of the object to be analyzed. The existing condition of VLCC is used as the basis for the analysis. The VLCC's cross-section is assumed to stay flat throughout the progressive collapse. The numerical analysis is adopted and implemented into the Finite Element Method to analyze the ultimate strength of the VLCC under hogging and sagging conditions. The application of Multiple Point Constraint (MPC) is performed on the VLCC cross-section model. The material properties like density, Young’s modulus, yield strength and Poisson’s ratio are included in the model. The comparison of the ultimate strength in terms of the moment-rotation relationship is introduced in this study.
Keywords: Very Large Crude Carrier, Cross Section, Bulkhead Simulation, Ultimate Strength