Model testing for ship hydroelasticity: A review and future trends

Conducting model experiments is an effective and reliable way in the investigation of ship hydrodynamic and hydroelastic behaviors. A survey of model testing techniques for ship hydroelasticity and its prospect are presented in this paper. The research highlights with respect to ship hydroelasticity and key points in model testing are summarized at first. Then testing techniques including laboratory tank test and full-scale sea trial are reviewed, and both their advantages and disadvantages are analyzed comprehensively. Based on the conventional testing approaches, a state-of-the-art testing approach which includes performing tests using large-scale model at sea is proposed. Furthermore, recommendations towards the further development of ship hydroelasticity tests are forecasted and discussed.