Investigation of springing in ship structures using experimental methods and 3-D hydroelastic theory

Large and long ships experience springing behavior. Depending on the trade routes and design of such ocean-going ships, wave-induced vibrations may be due to springing and whipping effects. In this paper, we address the wave-induced vibrations in an ultra-large ore carrier under fully loaded and ballast conditions. The experimental measurements from tests performed using a flexible model of the ship were compared with the numerical predictions from 3-D hydro-elastic theory (THAFTS) (Wu, Hydroelasticity of floating bodies. PH.D thesis, Brunel University, 1984). The measurements showed multiple frequencies between the encountered wave frequency and the 2-node bending frequency that occurred only in ballast conditions, whereas the springing vibrations were more apparent with forward speed under ballast conditions in both regular and irregular waves. The numerical method predicted the vertical bending moment quite well in the fully loaded condition but underestimated it in the ballast condition. This result was primarily due to an inability to capture the prediction of the multiple frequencies between the encountered wave frequency and the 2-node bending frequency. Using THAFTS, a new ship form with a deep draft was introduced, and this vessel was shown to reduce springing vibrations.