Ship Structures Symposium '81: Extreme Loads Response OCTOBER 19 - 20, 1981 Sheraton National Hotel, Arlington, VA    The papers presented at the 1981 SSC Symposium highlight some recent SSC research along with other topics that are of great interest to the SSC. An electronic copy of each paper can be searched similar, to the SSC reports, on the Search Reports page or by clicking on the paper title hyper-links on the 1981 SSC symposium Agenda page. The Symposium is jointly sponsored by the interagency Ship Structure Committee and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. This is the fourth in a scheduled series of symposia jointly sponsored by these two organizations, following the Ship Structures Symposia in 1975 and 1984, and the Ship Vibration Symposium in 1978. The Ship Structure Committee is an interagency committee constituted to prosecute a research program to improve the hull structure of ships and other marine structures by an extension of knowledge pretaining to design, materials and methods of construction. In pursuit of that mission and in conjunction with efforts of the Hull Structures Committee of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers symposia have been sponsored in 1975, 1978 and 1981 treat topics of concern. The purpose of the symposia has been to bring together representatives of ship owners, operators, builders, designers, researchers, government and classification bodies to discuss all aspects of the topic, which in this case is the response of ship structure to extreme loads. In recent years the statistical nature of ship structural loadings and responses has become better understood and means for their consideration developed. The high cost of shipbuilding and repair require that fullest advantage be taken of this new knowledge and related technology in future ship systems designs. It is timely, therefore, that the problem of extremes and available technology for their treatment be exposed and discussed in an open forum by all those engaged in ship design, construction and operation. While it was intended that the symposium concentrate on structural response as against loads generation, this is not generally possible and it is hoped that those who participate in the discussions and further development of the ideas presented will keep in mind the integrated nature of this topic. By so doing it is believed that a fuller appreciation of the state of the art will be gained by all and the significant technical advances being discussed will most effectively be implemented to the benefit of future ship design, construction and operation. Sincerely, Walter Maclean Chairman Technical Program Committee (1981) John B. O'Brien Chairman Extreme Loads Response Symposium (1981)