A strength analysis of ramp door with pressure loads using finite element method

Ro-Ro Ferry is equipped with a ramp door that allows wheeled vehicles to travel between a port and the ship. The ramp door is subject to loads during cargo operations and from the traveling vehicles. When the vehicles travel across the ramp door, the ramp door is subject to load pressure. This repetitive load can cause changes in the geometric shape of the structure; The ramp door has to be designed to withstand the loads. The purpose of this research is to analyze the strength of the ramp door using a finite element method with the given load pressure. The Finite element analysis of the ramp door is carried out using FE-based software. The bow ramp door construction is simulated experiencing dynamic loads; the acting loads are vehicle loads which comprise light and medium-duty trucks and buses. The maximum stress acting in the construction is then determined using the specified loads. A safety factor, or the ratio of a material's final stress to its permitted stress, also examines the construction. Based on the results, it is shown that the maximum stress occurs at the load case of the medium-duty truck, followed by the bus, and then the light-duty truck. it is revealed that the construction is safe with a safety factor (SF >1) for all given load cases.