BENDING MOMENT

Bending moment is one of the primary structural forces considered in ship design and cargo loading. It occurs because the vessel's weight and the upward buoyant forces are rarely distributed evenly along the hull, creating bending stresses that may result in hogging or sagging. Excessive bending moments can lead to structural fatigue, cracking, permanent deformation, or even hull failure if allowable limits are exceeded. Proper cargo distribution, ballast management, and continuous load monitoring are essential to keep bending moments within the safe operating limits established by the vessel's classification society.