A Simulation Study of the Collision of a Ship with a Bridge Pier in the River Tyne

Abstract

The behabiour of a ship in the River Tyne near the Western By-pass bridge has been simulated, assuming that the ship has lost control and is under the influence of wind, current and also hydrodynamic forces and moments. The worst possible cases of collision have been considered. It has been found that the ship can hit the pier with its bow, stern or side at any angle from zero to 180 degrees. The kinetic energy lost in the collision and both the impact forces and moments acting on the pier have been calculated for each case to find the maximum values.