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scantling
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scantling

watercraft
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Quick Summary

In naval architecture, scantlings refer to the dimensions, shape, and unit weight of individual structural members of a ship's hull. These dimensions are crucial for ensuring a ship is strong enough to withstand the loads imposed by normal service and expected seaways.1

Scantlings are determined during the design process, often starting with the midship section where bending moments are typically greatest. Preliminary scantlings are selected based on experience, similar vessels, classification society rules, or analytical calculations. The goal is to proportion these structural elements for minimum weight and cost while maintaining acceptable performance and strength.12

A related term is the scantling number, which is a computed value based on a ship's dimensions. This number is used to reference tabulated schemes that specify the size of structural materials needed for a ship's classification and seaworthiness grading.3

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6 Britannica Sources
  1. scantling number
  2. naval architecture - Scantlings and strength calculations
  3. naval architecture - Jointing, connections, and attachments
  4. naval architecture - Structural configurations
  5. scantling
  6. naval architecture - Preliminary design stage

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