Numerical analysis of the forces exerted on offshore structures by ship waves

Ship-generated waves can contribute to the fatigue of offshore structures. This paper presents a numerical model for evaluating the forces exerted on a nearby fixed structure by ship-generated waves. The ship waves were modeled using Michell's thin-ship theory (Wigley waves), and the forces were computed using a boundary element method in the time domain. The simulation was validated by comparing its results with those of frequency-domain methods reported in the literature. It was then applied to calculate the forces exerted on a hemisphere by ship waves varying with the ship's speed, dimensions and distance from the hemisphere to the ship's path. Our results indicate that the ship waves have enormous effects on offshore structures and are not neglectable.