Fatigue Analysis of Swaged Bulkheads

Abstract

The presented paper describes GD NASSCO research for Fatigue Analysis of Swaged Bulkheads, a Research Announcement project through the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP). The goal is to investigate the fatigue life of structural details on swaged bulkheads compared to those of a structurally equivalent traditionally stiffened bulkhead, through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) supplemented with physical testing. The goal of this project is to demonstrate that swaged bulkheads have equivalent fatigue life or better than a traditionally stiffened bulkhead.