Generation of Knuckled Panels

Certain extensions have been made to the Design Language of Planar Hull Modelling in order to support the generation of knuckled panels. The changes affect only the Panel and Boundary statements.

The subpanels are described like normal panels, however, they must be given a tag, telling that they are subpanels. The user must also indicate the edges of the subpanel along which connection (knuckling) should take place.

Basically, the subpanels are generated as ordinary panels in a way similar to bracket panels. Boundaries of subpanels to be connected need not coincide exactly - the system will, whenever reasonable, adjust their geometry to fit. Thus, a certain gap or overlap will be accepted. However, the planes of the subpanels will not be changed.

Once the subpanels have been generated the main panel is generated by reference to all the subpanels by which it is built up.

In describing a knuckled panel there is some redundancy, because currently the plate characteristics must be defined individually for each subpanel and the limits along the knuckle line must be specified in both of the involved subpanels.

The given values must, of course, match for the two subpanels to be combined.

The position numbers of the combined plates will be fetched from the (first of the) subpanel plate parts that are combined to the knuckled part.

Knuckled panels may contain stiffeners, holes, like all other panels. These components are supposed to be generated on the subpanels.

Holes, notches, cutouts and stiffeners across the knuckle lines are currently not supported.