STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF LARGE ALUMINIUM ALLOY HIGH-SPEED CRAFT.

Based on three decades of experience in Mitsubishi Shimonoseki Shipyard, Japan, of the construction of a number of all-aluminum alloy craft such as torpedo boats and patrol boats, guidelines for the structural design of large light alloy craft are presented. Special emphasis is laid on the development of a suitable framing system and panel structure to withstand the low fatigue strength of light alloy material. Technical efforts in the development of panels extruded with stiffeners and extruded sections of various shapes together with efforts in the development of an automatic welding system have made it possible to construct large all-aluminum alloy craft with satisfactory strength and service performance. The economical comparison of various aluminum aloy passenger boats was also referred to. 8 refs.