Structural Reliability Study of the N219 Floatplane’s Floater Due to Random Wave Loads

Abstract A floater is a buoyant apparatus employed to enable a floatplane to remain afloat and operate on the water surface. During its operational period, the floater experiences stress and deformation as a result of hydrodynamic loads. This study primarily focuses on providing a comprehensive examination of the structural strength of the proposed floater design. The determination of the structural integrity is achieved by the use of the finite element approach which is a popular method for numerically solving, and where in the wave-induced loads experienced by the floater structure are utilized as input parameters. The stress intensity in the floater structure is resulted in relation to the wave load parameters, specifically wave height and wave heading angle. The use of a structural reliability approach involves the consideration of the inherent randomness associated with both the load imposed on a structure and its strength. The Monte Carlo method is utilized to generate randomness of in order to determine the Probability Density Function (PDF) of both the structure’s stresses and its strength. The computational findings elucidate that the floater structure exhibits reliability level of 97 % to 71% in a range of wave height between 0.5 to 3 meters and including reliability level of 100 % to 92% in a similar wave height factor, based on construction materials of aluminium and steel, respectively. This reliability level was indicating toughness of floater structure in each wave condition, smaller reliability level means there is high chance of structural failure.