Storing of Panels

Panels are always described in the uv-plane of a local coordinate system, uvw, oriented by a transformation vector in the global ship coordinate system xyz. For general rules, see the Design Standards (for knuckled panels the subpanels are oriented in this way).

The normal situation is that panels are described where they are physically located. However, panels can also be describe in their mirrored position. It might be convenient to described an SB specific panel in the same way (including the location) as the corresponding PS specific panel (for example, by copying and modifying the input scheme).

The following possibilities exist:

1. The panel is symmetric, that means, occurs in one SB-variant and in one PS-variant.

2. The panel is PS specific.

3. The panel is SB specific.

   In all these cases, the panels can be described, either PS or SB.

4. The panel is located over/in CL ("SP-panel").

   Such a panel must be described where it is located, that means, it must not be reflected.

(A panel should be considered as a panel over CL only if it is symmetric over the CL, located in the CL plane or if it has whole components on both sides of the CL. A PS specific panel may very well have one plate that partly extends into SB.)

The Planar Hull Modelling system treats all panels correctly independently of where and how they are stored. However, the user must be aware of the storing, because a reference to another panel is always made in the position where it is stored. for example, when generating a double floor bottom transverse to be stored on SB, and having a SB specific girder as one boundary. Then the girder must be reflected as a boundary if stored on PS but not if it is stored on SB (the following images).

Starboard girder, stored starboard side:

BOU, ... /'GIRD'/ ... ;

Starboard girder, stored (generated) on port side:

.

BOU, ... /'GIRD',REF/ ... ;

For many component types on a symmetrical panel it is possible to define them as valid for portside or starboard only. This facility is useful for defining small differences on an otherwise symmetrical panel. It is then possible to define and modify the majority of components for both sides simultaneously in spite of for example, an additional hole on one of the sides.

However when the differences between the two sides become to big, the symmetrical panel should be split into one portside and one starboard panel. As a side specific panel can be described on either side, just copying the scheme of the original symmetrical panel and then change the name and symmetry can easily do this.

In general portside or starboard specific components on symmetrical panels should be used when the component should be suppressed on one of the sides. If the component exists on both side but with different characteristics, two separate panel definitions should be used to avoid problems in generation and production.