This deliverable presents the numerical assessment of the membrane-type cargo containment system (CCS) concept developed within the LH2CRAFT project for future large-scale liquefied hydrogen transportation. The study supports the conceptual design phase by evaluating both the thermal performance and structural integrity of key CCS components under representative operating conditions.
A comprehensive finite element analysis (FEA) program was carried out covering standard insulation panels, corner panel arrangements, and membrane structural details. The analyses considered the combined effects of cryogenic temperatures, vacuum conditions, cargo loading, ballast conditions, and hull deformation in order to assess the suitability of the proposed CCS architecture for liquid hydrogen service.
The assessment confirmed that the proposed insulation system can provide the required thermal protection while maintaining adequate structural reliability under the investigated loading scenarios. Particular attention was given to complex corner regions, where both thermal and mechanical behavior differ from those of standard flat panels. The results demonstrated that suitable structural arrangements can be achieved for these geometrically challenging areas while preserving overall system performance.
In addition to the insulation system assessment, dedicated analyses were performed to investigate the structural behavior of membrane corrugations under representative pressure loading conditions. These studies provided valuable engineering insight into the response of the membrane structure under extreme loading scenarios and supported the establishment of appropriate design margins for future development stages.
Overall, the results confirm the technical feasibility of the proposed membrane-type CCS concept and provide a quantitative engineering basis for subsequent detailed design activities, prototype construction, experimental validation, and future classification approval processes. The deliverable therefore represents an important milestone in the development of safe and efficient liquid hydrogen cargo containment technologies for next-generation hydrogen carriers.
Due to the sensitive nature of the technical information included, the full deliverable is not publicly available.
