Canoe Hull Analysis using Abaqus

ASCE Student Chapter - Canoe Building Project at Western Michigan University

Student: Matthew Czachowski
Advisor: Dr. Upul Attanayake

The ASCE Student Chapter participated in the 2008 North Central Regional Competition on April 6, 2008, in Lansing, MI. The canoe was built using light weight concrete and named the Meridian.
The selected canoe configuration was analyzed using Abaqus.The objective of the analysis was to identify the critical stress levels and locations for developing hull strengthening scheme and making decisions on the material strength requirements.The canoe was analyzed under hydrostatic pressure load that resulted from canoe self weight and the weights of paddlers. Based on the analysis results, four structural ribs were selected for strengthening the hull. Lightweight concrete with 250 psi tensile strength was used to build the canoe.