Quasi-Static Numerical Modelling of an ore Carrier Hold

Abstract

The problems associated with ore carriers’ incidents, have preoccupied international organizations and many research laboratories which have been mobilised to identify the causes and seek for the solutions. The cargo liquefaction is considered to be the major cause of ore carriers’ capsizing. The final aim of this research is to establish a new test procedure for evaluating the shear strength of loaded ore in view of its liquefaction prevention. First, a brief review is presented about the possible origins of cargo instability and examines the stress distribution by means of a quasi-static numerical modelling. Second, an assessment of the shear ratio variation, in terms of the hold inclination is established. According to this analysis, at a 15° hold inclination, the maximum shear ratio is less than 0.2 in all pile areas except under the residual slopes and at the surface that are assumed to be the most vulnerable parts.