Loaddistributedincontainers

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1. Preamble

Containersaredesignedtocarrytheirfullpayload,includingaverticaldynamicaccelerationof
0.8g,uniformlydistributedovertheentirefloorarea.Itshouldhoweverbekeptinmindthatthis
isnottheonlystrengthrequirementthatinfluencethedesignofcontainers.AccordingtotheISO
standardcontainersarealsodesignedtowithstandthefollowingtestcriteria:

Sidewalltest
Toplifttest
Rigiditytests
Wheelloadtest

Therulesofthumbforcalculatingrequireddistributionofconcentratedloadspresentlyinuse
arebasedsolelyontheuniformlydistributedpayloadcriteria.Althoughcorrectfromthat
perspective,theyprovidesolutionswhichareclearlynotpracticalandthatarenotinlinewith
whatcanberegardedassufficientbasedonexperience.Ifothertestcriteriaforstrengtharealso
takenunderconsideration,itisshownthatdrycontainershaveacapacitytofacilitatedcargo
weightsclosetoorequaltothepayloadeveniftheweightisnotuniformlydistributedofthe
entirefloorarea.

Figure1.Exampleofunreasonablearrangementforloaddistributionbasedoncurrentlyapplied
rulesofthumb.

Thecurrentlyusedrulesofthumbmainlyconsidersdistributionofloadsinthelongitudinal
direction,whileitindrycontainerswouldbemoreefficienttodistributetheloadsinthe
transversedirection,therebytakingadvantageofthestrengthofthesidewallconstruction.

Inthispaper,thebendingmomentcapacityoftypicalcontainersidesdesignedaccordingtothe
standardhasbeeninvestigated.Furthermore,thestrengthoftypicaltransversebeamsinthe
containerfloorshasalsobeeninvestigatedandacomparisonbetweenthestrengthrequiredto
facilitateauniformlydistributedpayloadandthewheelloadproducedbyaforklifthavebeen
made.Typicalcontainerdesignshavebeenanalysedbothgloballyandlocallywithcalculations.

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2. Global longitudinal strength

Eachsideofacontainercanbeconsideredtobeabeamwithathinwebconsistingofthe
corrugatedsidewallandtopandbottomflangesconsistingofprofilesdesignedtostiffenthe
construction.

Figure2a. Typicalsidestructureofanolder20 Figure2b. Typicalsidestructureofamodern

The20footcontaineraboveisstiffenedbyasolidbarof5012mminthetop.Modern
containersaretypicallystiffenedby60x60x3mmsquareprofile.Bothcontainertypesare
equippedwithabentprofileatthebottom,designedbothtostiffenthecontainerandtoprovide
supportfortheflooring.Examplesoftypicalsidestructuresof20and40footcontainersare
foundinfigure2aand2babove.

Loaddistributedincontainers
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Themaximumbendingstressinabeamisgivenby:

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Where:

Mallowed = Allowedbendingmoment
allowed
= Allowedstressinthematerialduetobending

I
= Momentofinertia

zmax
= Largestdistancefromthecentreofgravity

Sincethetestcriteriaspecifiesthatafterthetestthecontainershallshownopermanent
deflection,theallowedstressisgivenbytheyieldstressofthematerialinthecriticalcomponent.
Both20and40footcontainersaretypicallymadeofhighergradsteelwithayieldstrengthof
350N/mm2andanelasticlimitof345N/mm2.Thesolidbarintheolder20footcontaineris
howevermadeofnormalsteelgradewithayieldstrengthof250N/mm2.

Themomentofinertiacanbeconservativelyestimatedbythefollowingformula:

Where:

A1 = Areaoftopflange

A2 = Areaofbottomflange

h = Distancebetweentopandbottomflange(BetweenCGs)

hCG = DistancebetweenbottomflangeandCentreofGravity

hwall = Heightofsidewall

twall = Thicknessofsidewall

Duetothethicknessofonly1.6mm,thematerialinthecorrugatedsidewallplate,hasbeen
omittedfromcalculationofthemomentofinertiabelow.

Themomentofinertiaaswellasthemaximumallowedbendingmomentforthetwosidebeams
oftypical20and40footcontainersarecalculatedinthetablebelow:

Parameter/Dimension
20container
40container
2
A1
600mm
684mm2
2
A2
1582mm
1582mm2
h
2466mm
2442mm
hCG
1054mm
1054mm
hwall
2380mm
2332mm
twall
0mm
0mm
9
4
I
2.9510 mm
3.08109mm4

zmax
1418mm
1442mm
2
250N/mm
345N/mm2
allowed
Mallowed(for2sides)
1.03109Nmm=105tonm
1.47109Nmm=150tonm

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2.1. Maximum point load

Forasimplysupportedbeam,representingthecontainerrestingonitscornerfittings,subjected
toapointloadWthemaximuminnerbendingmomentcanbecalculatedbythefollowing
formula:

Where:
fdyn

T
W
l

= Factorfortakingaccountofdynamicvariationsintheverticalload,
fdyn=1.8
=Tareweightofcontainer
=Pointload
=Lengthofcontainer

Figure3.Theinnerbendingmomentforasimplysupportedbeamsubjectedtoapointload.

Basedonthisformulaandtheallowedbendingmomentscalculatedabove,themaximumpoint
loadsinthecentreoftypicalcontainershavebeencalculatedforboth20and40footcontainers,
seetablebelow.

Parameter/Dimension
20container
40container
Tareweight,T
2.25ton
3.75ton
Lengthofcontainer,l
6.0m
12.0m
Mallowed
105tonm
150tonm

Maximumpointload
37ton
27ton

2.2. Conclusions and recommendations regarding global strength

Duetosimilardesign,theglobalbendingstrengthof20and40footcontainersaresimilar.This
indicatesthatotherstrengthcriteriathantheuniformlydistributedpayloadgovernsthedesign
ofdrycontainersidewalls.

Furthermore,ithasbeenshownthatshortcargoesdoesnotgeneratingcriticalbendingmoments
neitherin20nor40footcontainers.

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3. Local longitudinal strength

Thecontainersidesaretypicallyweldedtothebasestructurewithaweldthicknessofa=3mm.

Figure4.AfilletweldloadedintensionbyaforceF.

ThemaximumallowedforceFmaxforafilletweldisgivenby:

whereAistheeffectiveareaoftheweld,cistheseamfactorandfydisthemaximumallowed
stress.Thefollowingvalueshavebeenused:

c=1.2whichisforafilletweldintensionandwithaseamclassA:weldofordinaryclass

fyd=176N/mm2whichisforS235steelwithnormalsafetyclass.

TheeffectiveareaAistheproductofweldthicknessmultipliedbythelengthoftheweldl.

ThisgivesamaximumloadFperweldlengthof

176 N/mm 440N/mm 44 ton/m

Theallowablecargoweightqpermeteriscalculatedbyconsideringbothsidesofthecontainer
andtakingintoaccountthedynamicvariationofforcesintheverticaldirection:

48
/
.

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3.2. Strength of the side walls

Thecontainersidesaretypicallycorrugatedplatewithaminimumthicknessoft=1.6mm.The
stressinaplateloadedintensionistheforceFdividedbythecrosssectionarea.

Figure5.Plateloadedintension.

Foramaximumallowedstressofmax=345N/mm2thisgivesamaximumloadperunitlengthof

345 1.6 N/mm 552 N/mm 56.2 ton/m

Theallowablecargoweightpermeterqiscalculatedbyconsideringbothsidesofthecontainer
andtakingintoaccountthedynamicvariationofforcesintheverticaldirection:

613 /
62.5
/
.

Fromthisitispossibletoconcludethatitistheweldratherthanthesideplatethatlimitsthe
maximumpointloadatthecontainerside.

Theminimumlengthofconcentratedloadsduetolocalstrengthcanthusbecalculatedas:

Where:

r
= Minimumlengthofdistributedload

P
= Weightofcargo

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3.3. Required width of transverse beams

Ifbeams,laidontopoftheflooringandthesideprofiles,areusedtodistributetheloadtothe
containersides,therewillbelocalstressesinthesidewalls.Itisreasonabletoassumethatalso
somepartofthesidewallforwardandaftofthecontactsurfacewillcontributetocarrytheload.
Aconservativeassumptionisthattheloaddistributioninthesideplatewillbeasshownin
figure6,whereaisthecontactsurfacefromatransversalwoodenbeam(widthofbeam).

Figure6.Loaddistributioninthecontainerside.

Themaximumcargoweightthatcanbecarriedbytransversebeamslaidontopoftheflooring
andsideprofilesofthecontainermaythenbecalculatedbethefollowingformula:

3
3 48
144

Where:

q
= Maximumloadpermeter,q=48ton/m

n = Numberofbeams

a
= Widthofbeamsinmeter

Theformulaaboveisvalidprovidedthatthelongitudinaldistancesbetweenthebeamsareat
least2timestheirwidth.

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4. Bending strength of transverse flooring structure

Thecontainerflooristypicallymadebyplywoodwhichissupportedbytransversebeamsmade
ofsteel,anditcanbeseenasastiffenedplate.However,asaconservativeapproach,the
strengthoftheplywoodboardshasbeendisregardedinthisanalysis.Thetransversebeamsare
typicallyspacedsome280mmapartinthelongitudinaldirection.

Therearetwostrengthcriteriathattheflooringmustbeabletowithstand:

Thepayloadofthecontainerhomogeneouslydistributedovertheentirefloorarea,taking
intoaccountthedynamicloadvariationsintheverticaldirectionduringseatransport(i.e.
testloadingwith2timesthecargoweight).

Manoeuvringtestwithaforkliftwherethewheelsareseparatedbyadistanceof760mm
andtheloadoneachwheelis2.73ton.Theprintareaofthewheelsistobenomorethan
100x180mm.

(Itshouldbenotedthatmostcontainersappearstobetestedbyusingaforkliftwithanaxleload
of7.26tons,seealsoSecondDraftofthePackingCode,paragraph7.1.2.5)

Thedesignbendingmomentinthetransversedirectionpermeterofthecontainerfloorduetoa
homogeneousloadcanbecalculatedbythefollowingformula:

Figure7.Homogeneouslydistributedloadoverthecontainerfloor.

Where:
fdyn

P0
B
L

= Factorfortakingaccountofdynamicvariationsintheverticalload,
fdyn=2
= Payload
= Floorwidth
= Floorlength

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Basedonthisformulathedesignbendingmomentpermeterlengthofthecontainerhasbeen
calculatedforboth20and40footcontainersinthetablebelow:

Parameter/Dimension
20container
40container
Payload,P0
28.0ton
29.0ton
Lengthofcontainer,L
6.0m
12.0m
Widthofcontainer,B
2.m
2.3m

Designbendingmoment,mfloor1 2.7tonm/m
1.4tonm/m

Thedesignbendingmomentinthetransversedirectionpermeterofthecontainerfloorbased
ontheforkliftmanoeuvringtestcanbecalculatedbythefollowingformula:

Figure8.Twopointloadsfromthewheelsoftheforklift.

Where:

Pwheel = Loadoneachwheel,Pwheel=2.73ton
leffective = Effectivelengthofcontainerfloorthattakeuptheloadfromtheforklift
wheels.

Thistestcriterionisidenticalforboth20and40footcontainers.

Itisreasonabletoassumethattheplywoodflooringiscapableofdistributingtheloadovernot
morethan3individualfloorbeams,eachloadedwith33%oftheloadfromthecargo.Witha
distancebetweenthefloorbeamsof0.28m,thefollowingdesignbendingmomentpermeterof
containerlengthcanbecalculated:

. .

2.5
/
.

Itshouldbenotedthatmostcontainersaretestedwithanevenheavierforklift(7.26tons)and
thereissomeuncertaintyofhowtheloadisspreadovertheadjacentbeamsinthecontainer
floor.Itcanbeconcludedthattheforklifttestrequiresastrengthinthecontainerfloorthatis
veryclosetothatoftheuniformlydistributedloadina20footcontainer.Giventhenearidentical
constructionofflooringsforboth20and40footcontainersitcanbeassumedthatthesame
dimensioningmomentof2.7tonm/mcanbeusedinbothcases.

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5. Bedding Arrangements

Shortornarrowcargoesmayoverloadthefloorstructure.Thismaybepreventedeitherbyusing
longitudinalsupportbeamsunderneaththecargotodistributetheloadovermoretransverse
flooringbeams,orbytheuseoftransversebeams,todistributetheloadtowardsthestrongside
structuresofthecontainer.

Differentmodelsforestimatingthestressinthewoodensupportbeamsandtheirrequired
bendingstrengthhavebeenproposed.Ifthewoodenbeamsaretocarrythefullloadofthe
cargobythemselves,abothendssuspendedbeamrestingonlyonitsendscanbeused,see
below.

Rigidcargo
Flexiblecargo

Loadingofbothendssuspendedbeamscarryingtheweightofthecargowithouthelpfromthe
floor.

Itishowevernotlikelythatthewoodenbeamsaresostiffthattheydontgetcontactwiththe
floorbeneaththemandsupportatotherpointsthantheends.Furthermore,thepurposeofthe
beamisrathertosupplementthestrengthofthefloorandspreadtheloadofthecargoovera
widerare.Optimally,thewoodenbeamswouldspreadthefootprintofthecargoevenlyoverthe
entirefloorareaunderneathit,asillustratedinthefigurebelow.

Rigidcargo
Flexiblecargo

Loadingofbeamswhichdistributethecargoweightevenlyovertheirentirelength.

Themodelaboveissuitableforflexiblecargo,butduetotherelativeflexibilityofwood
comparedtosteel,thewoodenbeamshavealimitedcapacitytospreadtheloadoveragreat
lengthwhensubjectedtothepointloadsresultingfromrigidcargo.

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Deflectionofbeamwithrigidcargo,supportedbyuniformlydistributedloadfromunderneath.

Theredlineintheillustrationaboveshowsthedeflectionofthebeam.Ascanbeseenforthe
rigidcargocase,thebeamwoulddeflectupwardsatthecentreifsubjectedtoauniformly
distributedloadfrombelow,atleastforwiderigidcargoes.Thismeansthattherewouldbelittle
pressurebetweenthewoodenbeamandtheflooratthecentreandattheends.Thus,amore
realisticmodelforrigidcargoesisgivenbelow:

Deflectionofbeamwithrigidcargo,supportedbyvariablydistributedloadbasedonthecontact
pressurebetweenthewoodenbeamandthecontainerfloor.Thecontactpressureisbasedonthe
deflectionofthewoodenbeamandthecontainerfloor.

Theaboverealisticmodeltakescareofthefactthatwoodenbeamsdeflectmorethanthesteel
beamsofacontainerfloor.However,asthismodelistoocomplextobaseanyregulationson,it
issuggestedtouseasimplifiedmodelwherethecontactforceisuniformlydistributedbut
concentratedaroundthesupportpointsofthecargo:

Simplifiedmodelwiththeloadconcentratedaroundthesupportpointsofthecargo.

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5.1. Required length of longitudinal support beams for narrow cargoes

Cargoeswithsmallerwidththantheinnerwidthofthecontainermaybesupportedfrom
underneathbylongitudinalbeamsinordernottooverloadthetransversefloorbeams.Bythis,
theweightofthecargoisdistributedtoagreaternumberoffloorbeams.

Thenthismethodisused,thebeamsshouldbeplacedatthesidesofthecargo,therebyloading
thetransversbeamsascloseaspossibletothesideofthecontainer.

Figure10.Narrowcargoplacedonlongitudinalsupportbeams.

Ifthecargoisrestingon2beamsplacedunderneaththeoutermostpartsofthecargo,the
transversebeamsinthecontainerflooraresubjectedto2pointloadsandtheresultingbending
momentinthefloorstructureinthetransversedirectioncanbecalculatedbythefollowing
formula:

Where:

fdyn = Factorfortakingaccountofdynamicvariationsintheverticalload,

fdyn=1.8

P
= Cargoweight

B = Floorwidth

s
= Distancebetweenlongitudinalsupportbeams

Thisbendingmomentshouldbelessorequaltothedesignbendingmomentofthefloor
structure:

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Where:

mfloor= 2.7tonm/m

r
= Lengthoflongitudinalsupportbeams[m]

Therequiredlengthoflongitudinalsupportbeamscanthusbecalculatedas(withtheweightin
tonandthelengthsinmeters):

0.17

ByproposalofHermannKapstherequiredsectionmodulusofthesupportbeams(calculatedasa
bothendsuspendedbeam)isgivenby:

Where:

W = Sectionmodulusofbeams[cm3]

rcargo = Lengthofcargo[m]

n
= Numberofsupportbeams

= Permissiblebendingstressinbeam[kN/cm2]

Alternativelytherequiredsectionmodulusforthesupportbeams(ifconsideredtobeuniformly
supportedfromunderneathovertheentirelength)couldbecalculatedby:

9.81 1000
8

221

Where:
W
= Sectionmodulusofsupportbeams[cm3]
n
= Numberofsupportbeams
P
= Cargoweight,[ton]
fdyn = Factorfortakingaccountofdynamicvariationsintheverticalload,

fdyn=1.8
rbeams = Lengthofsupportbeams,[m]
rcargo = Lengthofcargo,[m]
allowed= Allowedstressininsupportbeams,[kN/cm2]
allowed=2.4kN/cm2

Forwood:

Forsteel:
allowed=18kN/cm2

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Example

Twocoilsaretobeloadedonlongitudinalwoodensupportbeamsina20footcontainer.The
coilsare1.3mwide,hasgotadiameterof1.3mandweigh10tonseach.Assumethatthecoils
restonwedgesseparatedbyadistanceof0.9minthelongitudinaldirection.

Figure11.Coilsloadedonlongitudinalsupportbeams.

Theminimumlengthofthebeamsisgivenby

0.17
0.17 10 2.3 1.3

Therequiredsectionmodulusofthesebeamsbecomes

Alternatively,thesectionmodulusbecomes:

221

1.7

205

221

.
.

164

Beamswithadimensionsof45(10cm12.5cm)haveasectionmodulusofW=208cm3).

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5.2. Required bending strength of transverse support beams

Ifnarrowcargoesareinsteadplacedontransversesupportbeamswithalengthequaltothe
innerwidthofthecontainer,boththebeamsandtheflooringstructurewillhelpsupportthe
cargo.

Figure12.Narrowcargoplacedontransversesupportbeamswithawidthequaltotheinner
widthofthecontainer.

Eventhoughweightofthecargomightnotbefullydistributedtothewholelengthofthe
woodenbeam,itisnonethelessrecommendedthattheyinallcasesstretchovertheentire
widthofthecontainer.

Rigidcargoes

Thebendingmomentinthewoodenbeamsandthefloorbeamsduetotheloadfromarigid
cargoandthedistributedloadbetweenthetwoelementsareillustratedbelow.

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Thebendingmomentinthefloorbeamcanbecalculatedaccordingtothefollowingformula:

2
2

With:

themomentcanbecalculatedas:

Themomentinthefloorbeamshouldasamaximumequaltheallowablemomentderivedin
Chapter4.Inparallelwiththeforklifttestcriteriathiseffectivelengthcanbeestimatedby
assumingthateachtransversewoodenbeamdistributestheloadoverthreefloorbeams,which
arespaced0.28mapart.

Where:
n
= Numberoftransversesupportbeams
fdyn = Factorfortakingaccountofdynamicvariationsintheverticalload,

fdyn=1.8
P
= Cargoweight[m]
B = Floorwidth[m]
s
= Widthofcargo[m]
mfloor= Strengthofthecontainerfloor,2.7tonm/m
leffective = Contributinglengthofcontainerfloor[m],takenasminimumof

Beamsspacedmorethan0.84mapart: leffective=3 0.28

Beamsspacedlessthan0.84mapart:
leffective=
0.56
r
= Lengthofcargo[m]

leffectiveisthelengthofcontainerfloorthatthewoodenbeamsareabletodistributetheloadfrom
thecargoto.Inparallelwiththeforklifttestcriteriathiseffectivelengthcanbeestimatedby
assumingthateachtransversewoodenbeamdistributestheloadoverthreefloorbeams,which
arespaced0.28mapart.Alternatively,ifthewoodenbeamsarespacedcloserthan3x0.28
=0.84metersapart,theeffectivelengthshouldbetakenasthelengthofthecargoplus2x0.28=
0.56m.

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Thefactorx,whichindicateshowwidethewoodenbeamshavetobeabletodistributetheload,
canbecalculatedas:

Thebendingmomentinthecentreofthewoodenbeamcanbecalculatedas:

Thus,therequiredsectionmodulusofthewoodensupportbeamsforarigidcargocanbe
calculatedas:

Withlengthsinmetersandweightsintonandwiththematerialstrengthtobeinsertedin
kN/cm2,thebendingstrengthbecomes:

Where:
W
=
n
=
P
=
s
=
allowed=

Bendingstrength[cm3]
Numberofsupportbeams
Cargoweight,[ton]
Cargowidth,[m]
Allowedstressinthematerialduetobending,[kN/cm2]
allowed=2.4kN/cm2
Forwood:
Forsteel:
allowed=18kN/cm2

Furthermore,inordertosatisfythelocalstrengthofthesidewalls,seechapter3.3,theminimum
widthofthetransversebeamsshouldbecalculatedfromthefollowingformula:

Where:

a
= Widthofbeams,[m]

P = Cargoweight,[ton]

q
= Maximumloadpermeter,q=63.4ton/m

n = Numberofbeams

Thegapbetweenthebeamsshouldbeatleast2timestheirwidth.

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Flexiblecargoes

Thebendingmomentinthewoodenbeamsandthefloorbeamsduetotheloadfromaflexible
cargoandthedistributedloadbetweenthetwoelementsareillustratedbelow.

Thebendingmomentinthefloorbeamcanbecalculatedaccordingtothefollowingformula:

Themomentinthefloorbeamshouldasamaximumequaltheallowablemomentderivedin
Chapter4.Inparallelwiththeforklifttestcriteriathiseffectivelengthcanbeestimatedby
assumingthateachtransversewoodenbeamdistributestheloadoverthreefloorbeams,which
arespaced0.28mapart.

Where:
n
= Numberoftransversesupportbeams
fdyn = Factorfortakingaccountofdynamicvariationsintheverticalload,

fdyn=1.8
P
= Cargoweight[m]
B = Floorwidth[m]
s
= Widthofcargo[m]
mfloor= Strengthofthecontainerfloor,2.7tonm/m
leffective = Contributinglengthofcontainerfloor[m],takenasminimumof

Beamsspacedmorethan0.84mapart: leffective=3 0.28

Beamsspacedlessthan0.84mapart:
leffective=
0.56
r
= Lengthofcargo[m]

leffectiveisthelengthofcontainerfloorthatthewoodenbeamsareabletodistributetheloadfrom
thecargoto.Inparallelwiththeforklifttestcriteriathiseffectivelengthcanbeestimatedby
assumingthateachtransversewoodenbeamdistributestheloadoverthreefloorbeams,which
arespaced0.28mapart.Alternatively,ifthewoodenbeamsarespacedcloserthan3x0.28

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=0.84metersapart,theeffectivelengthshouldbetakenasthelengthofthecargoplus2x0.28=
0.56m.

Thefactorx,whichindicateshowwidethewoodenbeamshavetobeabletodistributetheload,
canbecalculatedas:

Thebendingmomentinthecentreofthewoodenbeamcanbecalculatedas:

Therequiredsectionmodulusofthewoodensupportbeamsforarigidcargocanbecalculated
as:

Withlengthsinmetersandweightsintonandwiththematerialstrengthtobeinsertedin
kN/cm2,thebendingstrengthbecomes:

Where:
W
=
n
=
P
=
s
=
allowed=

Bendingstrength[cm3]
Numberofsupportbeams
Cargoweight,[ton]
Cargowidth,[m]
Allowedstressinthematerialduetobending,[kN/cm2]
Forwood:
allowed=2.4kN/cm2
Forsteel:
allowed=18kN/cm2

Furthermore,inordertosatisfythelocalstrengthofthesidewalls,seechapter3.3,theminimum
widthofthetransversebeamsshouldbecalculatedfromthefollowingformula:

Where:

a
= Widthofbeams,[m]

P = Cargoweight,[ton]

q
= Maximumloadpermeter,q=63.4ton/m

n = Numberofbeams

Thegapbetweenthebeamsshouldbeatleast2timestheirwidth.

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Example

Steelrodsaretobeloadedontransversewoodenbeamsina20footcontainer.Thepayloadis,
P=20tonandthewidthofthecargo,s=2m.Thesteelrodsarerestingon5beams.

Figure14.Steelrodsloadedontransversesupportbeams.

Theeffectivelengthofthe5beamsbecomes:

l
3 0.28 3 5 0.28 4.2

Therequiredsectionmodulusforthesupportbeamsbecomes,

.
.

79

whichcorrespondtobeamswithadimensionsof34(7.5cm10cm,W=94cm3)

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6. Conclusions

Ithasbeenfoundthatthesidesofacontainercantakeupmuchlargerbendingmomentsthan
whatiscreatedbythepayloadifitisuniformlydistributedandthusthetechniquetodistribute
concentratedloadsinadrycontainer,designedaccordingtothestandard,shouldbetotransfer
theloadtothesidesratherthanspreadingitoutinlongitudinaldirection.

Whennominatingtheminimumlengthofconcentratedcargoes,theglobalstrength,i.e.bending
ofthewholecontainerrestingonitscornerfittings,neednotbeconsideredforallpractical
applications.Onlythelocalstrength,i.e.tensioninthesidewalls,shouldbeconsidered.

Concentratedcargoweightswithlesserwidththanthecontainershouldbesupportedeitherby
longitudinalsupportbeams,therebytransferringtheloadtoagreaterpartoftheflooring
structure,orbytransversesupportbeamswhichtransferstheloadstothesidestructureofthe
container.Thelatteristoberegardedasthepreferredmethod.

Regardingthecapabilityoftheflooringtodistributeforcesinthetransversedirection,ithasbeen
foundthattherealstrengthrequiredbythewheelloadtestislargerthanwhattheuniformly
distributedpayloadrequiresfortypicalcontainers,especiallyfor40footcontainers.Dueto
nearlyidenticaldesign,thesameabilitytoresistbendingcanbeassumedforboth20and40foot
containerswhendesigningtherequiredsupportundertheloadtodistributeittothecontainer
sides.

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7. Recommendations

7.1. Minimum length of longitudinal support beams for narrow cargoes

Therequiredlengthoflongitudinalsupportbeamsfornarrowcargoescanthusbecalculatedas:

0.17

Where:

rbeams= Lengthofsupportbeams[m]

P = Cargoweight[ton]

B = Floorwidth[m]

s
= Distancebetweenlongitudinalsupportbeams[m]

ByproposalofHermannKapstherequiredsectionmodulusofthesupportbeamsisgivenby

Where:

W =Sectionmodulusofbeams[cm3]

rcargo = Lengthofcargo[m]

n
= Numberofsupportbeams

= Permissiblebendingstressinbeam[kN/cm2]

Alternativelytherequiredsectionmodulusforthesupportbeamscouldbecalculatedby

221

Where:
W
= Sectionmodulusofsupportbeams[cm3]
n
= Numberofsupportbeams
P
= Cargoweight,[ton]
fdyn = Factorfortakingaccountofdynamicvariationsintheverticalload,

fdyn=1.8
rbeams = Lengthofsupportbeams,[m]
rcargo = Lengthofcargo,[m]
allowed= Allowedstressininsupportbeams,[kN/cm2]

Forwood:
allowed=2.4kN/cm2

Forsteel:
allowed=18kN/cm2

Loaddistributedincontainers
Page23(23)
MariTermAB

20121009

7.2. Required bending strength of transverse support beams

Itissuggestedthattherequiredsectionmodulusforloadbearingtransversesupportbeamis
calculatedbythefollowingformulae:

Rigidcargo:

Flexiblecargo:

Where:
W
=
n
=
P
=
s
=
allowed=

Sectionmodulusofsupportbeams[cm3]
Numberofsupportbeams
Cargoweight,[ton]
Cargowidth,[m]
Allowedstressininsupportbeams,[kN/cm2]
Forwood:
allowed=2.4kN/cm2

Forsteel:
allowed=18kN/cm2
leffective = Contributinglengthofcontainerfloor[m],takenasminimumof

Beamsspacedmorethan0.84mapart: leffective=3 0.28

Beamsspacedlessthan0.84mapart:
leffective=
0.56

Inordertosatisfythelocalstrengthofthesidewalls,theminimumwidthofthetransverse
beamsshouldbecalculatedfromthefollowingformula:

Where:

P = Cargoweight[ton]

n = numberofbeams

a
= widthofbeams[m]

Thegapbetweenthebeamsshouldbeatleast2timestheirwidth.