Which risk increased as 18th-century shipbuilders maximized cargo capacity in wooden hulls?

💡 Explanation

As ships were enlarged to increase cargo space, longitudinal bending stress increased because longer spans of unsupported hull experienced greater bending moments, causing hogging and sagging. Therefore, the risk of structural deformation increased, rather than ballast shift, keel rot, or cannon vulnerability which depend on different mechanisms like stability, material properties, and external forces.

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