Experimental study of wave loads on a small vehicle in close proximity to a large vessel

Operations involving the launch or recovery of a smaller vessel from a larger one are extremely dangerous in high sea states and, therefore, they are normally carried out in low to moderate sea states. However, this can be severely restrictive and in some situations, carrying out such operations in high sea states is unavoidable. Here we report on a detailed investigation of the interaction between two vessels of different size in order to characterise their hydrodynamic interaction under different conditions and to provide insight for operational purposes. Model experiments were conducted to investigate the hydrodynamic interaction between two vessels in close proximity in waves. Previous studies into this interaction have focused on two vessels with comparable size/displacement. This study focused on the interaction between vessels of very different sizes, a platform supply vessel and a lifeboat, at various separation distances between the two models and wave headings. It is found that the effect of the hydrodynamic interaction on the wave loads on the lifeboat model is substantial. The load responses show a strong non-linearity (high order harmonic components). In head waves, the effect of the hydrodynamic interaction on the wave loads is greater in the transverse modes (sway, roll and yaw) than in the longitudinal modes (surge, heave and pitch). The sheltering effects of the larger model on the lifeboat model were also evident from the experiments. The results of this investigation may be used to inform the planning of marine operations, such as the launch and recovery of a lifeboat or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) from a mothership and the transfer of equipment or personnel between vessels. The data will also provide a useful resource for validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes and other numerical simulations, and can be used to better understand the limitations and potential widening of the operational weather windows and to ensure that operations are carried out safely.     

Seakeeping assessment of fishing vessels in conceptual design stage

The main idea of this paper is to identify functional relations between seakeeping characteristics and hull form parameters of Mediterranean fishing vessels. Multiple regression analysis is used for quantitative assessment through a computer software that is based on the SQL Server Database. The seakeeping attributes under investigation are the transfer functions of heave and pitch motions and of absolute vertical acceleration at stern, while the ship parameters influencing motion dynamics have been classified into two groups: displacement (Δ) and main dimensions (L, B, T), coefficients that define the details of the hull form (C_WP, C_VP, LCB, LCF, etc.).Four multiple regression models having different parameter combinations are here investigated and discussed, giving way to the so-called ‘Simple Model’, ‘Intermediate Model’, ‘Enhanced 1 Model’ and ‘Enhanced 2 Model’. The obtained results are more than satisfactory for seakeeping predictions during the conceptual design stage.     

A parametric study of wave loads on trimaran ships traveling in waves

In this paper, we present a spectral analysis based on wave loads to select suitable side-hull arrangements for a trimaran ship traveling in waves. Neglecting the steady flow effect, the three-dimensional source-distribution method, using a pulsating source potential incorporating the panel method, is adopted to solve the corresponding hydrodynamic coefficients. The significant values for wave loads, including shear forces, bending moments, and torsion moments at different locations on the main hull and connected deck with respect to different staggers and clearances, are derived by the spectral analysis. Several ship speeds and wave headings are also considered for comparison. This study offers more information for selecting the side-hull arrangement from the viewpoint of wave loads on trimaran ships, which may be regarded as helpful references for seakeeping design of these types of ships.     

Influence of non-linearities on the limits of stability of ships rolling in head seas

The present paper describes an investigation on parametric resonance in head seas in which a new third-order coupled mathematical model is considered. The restored modes of heave, roll and pitch are contemplated. The discussion is illustrated for the case of a transom stern fishing vessel at different speeds. It is pointed out that numerical simulations employing the new model are successfully compared to experimental results previously obtained for the vessel.Considering that analyticity is an important tool when handling complex stability issues, some theoretical dynamic characteristics of the equations are discussed. By means of the analysis of the coupled linear variational equation derived from an extended third-order model, the appearance of super-harmonics and increased rigidity proportional to wave amplitude squared due to third-order terms is demonstrated.In the present paper, an important tool is explored, that is the analysis of the limits of stability obtained from the new model. Limits of stability are a well-known and practical way of looking into the problem of parametric resonance. New limits of stability are derived and compared to the more conventional Strut diagram. Dynamic characteristics associated with the new limits of stability are discussed. The influence of different parameters is investigated, including vessel speed, damping and tuning. Consistent and revealing results are obtained through the analysis of the new limits of stability for different speeds and damping.     

Application of potential flow methods to fast displacement ships at transcritical speeds in shallow water

Computer codes implementing three different numerical methods for the prediction of ship squat at transcritical speeds in shallow open-water are tested. SlenderFlow is a potential flow code specifically for ships in very shallow water, based on partially dispersive slender body theory. Flotilla is a potential flow code based on fully dispersive thin-ship theory. Rapid is a general nonlinear free-surface panel code. Code predictions of transcritical sinkage, trim and resistance in laterally unrestricted water were compared to the experimental results of Graff (1964) for two Taylor series hulls in a finite-width towing tank. Once tank width effects were accounted for, each of the three codes was found to give good predictions within the valid range of the underlying theory. A simple method for estimating transcritical wave resistance from trim is presented.     

Modelling of multi-bodies in close proximity under water waves—Fluid forces on floating bodies

This work presents two-dimensional numerical results of the dependence of wave forces of multiple floating bodies in close proximity on the incident wave frequency, gap width, body draft, body breadth and body number based on both viscous fluid and potential flow models. The numerical models were validated by the available experimental data of fluid oscillation in narrow gaps. Numerical investigations show that the large amplitude responses of horizontal and vertical wave forces appear around the fluid resonant frequencies. The convectional potential flow model is observed to un-physically overestimate the magnitudes of wave forces as the fluid resonance takes place. By introducing artificial damping term with appropriate damping coefficients μ∈[0.4, 0.5], the potential flow model may work as well as the viscous fluid model, which agree with the damping coefficients used in our previous work for the predication of wave height under gap resonance. In addition, the numerical results of viscous fluid model suggest that the horizontal wave force is highly dependent on the water level difference between the opposite sides of an individual body and the overall horizontal wave force on the floating system is generally smaller than the summation of wave force on each body.     

The occurrence of irregular frequencies in forward speed ship seakeeping numerical calculations

This study investigates the occurrence of irregular frequencies in a seakeeping analysis of a ship moving with forward speed. This is achieved by formulating the interior virtual flow Dirichlet or Neumann eigenvalue problem. A theoretical analysis of a rectangular box travelling and oscillating in waves reveals that in the forward speed case, apart from the singular irregular frequency at zero encounter frequency, no irregular frequencies exist whilst at zero forward speed multiple irregular frequencies are observed confirming previous findings. These theoretical predictions are further verified by numerical calculations involving the rectangular box and a Series 60, C_B=0.70, hull.     

Variability of wave-induced ripple migration in wave-flume experiments and its implications for sediment transport

A thorough discussion of results from laboratory experiments with regular waves sheds light on the gap that lies between the sediment transport associated with ripple migration and the performance of a standard bedload transport formula in terms of bed shear concept. It is found that the extent of deviations of the bedload transport formula by Ribberink (1998) from the measured rate of sediment transport associated with ripple migration becomes systematically apparent under conditions of increasing settling time factor Ω_s (= η/(w₀T); η is the ripple height, w₀ the settling velocity and T the wave period). Re-examination of previous two field studies demonstrates a further reinforcement for phase-lag argument addressed in this paper.