Numerical Analysis of Oblique Collision on Ship Bow Structure Using the Finite Element Method

Juan Abiegnail Sianipar; Aldias Bahatmaka; Song Yeon Hee; Haris Nubli

Authors

Juan Abiegnail Sianipar Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang
Aldias Bahatmaka Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang
Song Yeon Hee Pukyong National University
Haris Nubli University of Surrey

Keywords:

finite element method, internal energy, crushing force, crashworthiness, oblique collision

Abstract

Oblique bow collision is a complex maritime accident scenario, as the angled impact produces a non-uniform distribution of force and deformation, making the resulting damage substantially harder to predict than perpendicular collisions. Although numerous finite element studies have examined ship collision behavior, most have isolated a single parameter, leaving the combined effect of collision position and angle insufficiently characterized within a single validated numerical approach. This study addresses that gap by evaluating, for the first time within one validated numerical approach, the combined influence of collision position and angle on the structural response of a ferry-to-LPG carrier collision, using Explicit Dynamic Finite Element Method analysis in ANSYS Workbench 2024 R2 (LS-DYNA solver), with two collision positions (P1: main deck; P2: mid-body/bulbous bow) and three angles (90°, 120°, 135°) at 5 m/s across six scenarios, validated against experimental data with a crushing force error of 1.07%. Results show collision position more decisively affects structural resistance than angle, with P2 producing a peak force of 31.44 MN at 90°, over 60% higher than P1. Peak force and internal energy absorption were also found decoupled, with the highest energy absorbed at P2-120° (9.85 MJ) rather than the highest-force case, indicating that the P2-90° zone is structurally critical and warrants priority reinforcement, such as additional transverse framing or localized plate thickening. These findings support treating energy absorption as equally critical to peak force in ship collision safety assessment, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and future work is recommended to develop this numerical approach further through variations in collision velocity and distance.

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