Composite Solutions for Deck Catamarans

Abstract

The paper is treating the strength analysis of the main deck structure of an inland navigation catamaran for 30 passengers. The main deck should have high stiffness and high strength to resist to external loading and endure high stresses from combined bending and torsion loads. Different materials for sandwich structure of the deck have been analysed by using the Finite Element Method in order to determine the solution which accomplish better designing criteria regarding allowable stress and deformations and total weight.