🔍 Key Concepts

• Longitudinal strength of a ship’s hull • Where bending stresses are greatest along the ship’s length • How keel scantlings relate to midship section strength

💭 Think About

• Think about where a ship experiences the maximum bending moment when supported by waves. • Ask yourself: does the keel need to be thickest at the ends or near the center to best resist sagging and hogging? • Which location along the length contributes most to the overall section modulus (resistance to bending) of the hull?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify where the midship section is and why it is structurally important. • Consider whether local loads at frames or global hull girder loads govern keel thickness. • Verify in your notes where designers focus the greatest scantlings to counter global bending of the hull.