Worst-case impact damage

Worst-case impact damage is defined as the damage caused by an impact event (e.g., a 1-in hemispherical impactor) at the lesser of the following two energy levels (1) 100 ft-lb, or (2) enough energy to cause a visible dent (0.1-in deep). A schematic of the various damage mechanics that take place in a laminated... 

Serious vessel collisions with bridges are extreme events associated with a great amount of uncertainty, especially with respect to the impact loads involved. As designing for the worst case scenario could be overly conservative and economically undesirable, a certain amount of risk must be considered as acceptable. The commonly accepted design objective is to minimize (in a cost-effective manner) the risk of catastrophic failure of a bridge component, and at the same time reduce the risk of vessel damage and environmental pollution. 

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