Equivalence and simplification of multi-wheel loading on secondary member of vehicle deck
[Objectives]As wheel loading on the vehicle decks of ro-ro ships may introduce difficulties for structural analysis due to the uncertainty of their quantities,ranges,and positions,it is necessary to study the equivalence and simplification of such loads.[Methods]Using a multi-span beam model as an idealized vehicle deck secondary member,wheel loading is simulated by distributed load and concentrated force respect-ively,and several structural responses are compared and analyzed.Furthermore,an analysis is made of the change in structural response after multiple wheel loadings have been simultaneously transformed into concen-trated force.[Results]The calculation results suggest that for vehicle decks with an ordinary arrangement,such equivalence and simplification tends to be safer and will not bring significant changes to the structural re-sponse.[Conclusions]Based on the above conclusions,a reasonable equivalent multi-wheel loading meth-od is provided for engineering application,thus contributing to the design simplification and strength verifica-tion of vehicle decks.