Response of spherical cargo tanks for liquefied gas to large support deformation

TL;DRAbstract

Collapse analysis has determined an order of magnitude of a half-meter for the critical displacement of a spherical cargo tank (defined as the amplitude of ovalization of the equator profile at which collapse occurs). The assumptions used to represent the consequence of a collision on the isolated sphere or to define collapse are all favorable to the sphere. The half-meter value contradicts that determined by Glasfeld but agrees approximately with other proposed values of 41 and 56 cm. Only the order of magnitude of the limiting deformation need be consistent with the assumptions. The results cast doubt on the validity of earlier collision studies, in which the amount of deformation supported by the tank prior to collapse was a central argument in deriving values for the critical impact speeds of typical tankers.

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