<![CDATA[The application of sandwich plates in marine structures offers a lightweight yet strong alternative to conventional steel plates. This study investigates how far the spacing between stiffeners can be widened on barge decks using 5-15-5 mm sandwich plates, without exceeding the allowable stress limit. The analysis was conducted using the finite element method (FEM) via ANSYS Student R2 2024. Variations of stiffener spacing tested were 610 mm (32 stiffeners), 762 mm (24 stiffeners), 1016 mm (16 stiffeners), 1524 mm (8 stiffeners), and one model without stiffeners . The simulation results show that all models with stiffeners up to 1524 mm meet the allowable stress limit of 175 MPa according to Lloyd's Register. However, the model without stiffeners exceeds the limit and is deemed unsafe. Deformation analysis also reveals that maximum deflection tends to occur on the portside, especially in areas unsupported by beams or girders. As the stiffener spacing increases, the deformation also increases and shifts due to edge effects and support asymmetry. Additionally, using sandwich plates results in a significant weight reduction compared to conventional steel construction—ranging from 23.13% to 32.83%, depending on the spacing. Based on these findings, a stiffener spacing of up to 1524 mm is considered optimal in maintaining structural safety while reducing weight.]]>
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