A Study on the Development of Block Support Height Adjustment Device Using Static Nonlinear Analysis

Currently, shipyards are using ship block supports to hold various pre-erection (PE) blocks during ship construction work. The height adjustment method of the ship block support is performed by workers hammering and driving the wedge part, which requires repetitive high-load work. Accordingly, there are concerns about musculoskeletal diseases and safety accidents. To prevent safety accidents and improve work efficiency, this study developed a block support height adjustment device using a hydraulic cylinder. It was designed considering the ease of movement of the block support height adjustment device and the ease of adjusting the height of the block support by workers within the shipyard. Numerical analysis was conducted to confirm the critical points of the structural members of the designed block support height adjustment device and to verify the safety of the stress-based structure. As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the stress occurring at the critical point of the structural member was lower than the design allowable stress, making it structurally safe. Afterwards, the block support height adjustment device was redesigned for lightweight, and after verification of structural safety through numerical analysis, a prototype was manufactured and performance evaluation was conducted.