| Abstract: | For coupled vibration analyses of prismatic shell structures immersed in an infinite fluid medium, a composite element consisting of a semi-analytical infinite fluid element and a cylindrical shell strip element is proposed in this paper. The behaviour in the infinite direction can be accurately modelled with minimum effort and great saving in computational cost is achieved using this element. Unlike many other methods which tend to take advantage of axisymmetry to simplify the analysis, this method may be used to analyse the dynamic behaviour of prismatic shell structures with arbitrary cross-sections in offshore engineering. |
