Large-Amplitude Ship Motions and Extreme Loads

The linear theory for body loads and responses due to waves is now well established for ship and offshore-platform applications.

Despite this success, the framework for solving engineering problems where nonlinear effects are important is generally unavailable. This is especially true for novel or high performance vessels and offshore structures. In many cases, it is precisely when safety, structural integrity and survivability are at issue, that extreme motions and loads in steep waves and, hence, nonlinear effects, are paramount. This is a long-term research effort (started some 15 years ago) to develop understanding, computational tools and predictions for nonlinear wave-wave and wave-body interactions. Recent research areas include high-order sum- and difference-frequency wave forces on floating and submerged bodies and their statistics; time-domain large-amplitude ship motion computations; slamming and impact loads due to steep overturning waves and water entry; green water on deck; two- and threedimensional breaking-wave mechanics; and coupled mooring-body-wave dynamics. The ultimate goal of this effort is to develop reliable computational capabilities for fully nonlinear interactions of steep waves with general three-dimensional bodies, including body motions.