Frequency-domain hydroelastic stress analysis of floating structures under spatially inhomogeneous wave field

Abstract

This paper presents a frequency-domain method for the stress analysis of flexible floating structures exposed to a spatially inhomogeneous wave field. A hydroelastic model is developed for the continuous structure, wherein discrete rigid modules are connected by elastic beams with equivalent stiffness. The inhomogeneous wave field is divided into wave regions characterized by constant wave parameters. By assigning distinct wave parameters to modules based on their respective positions, the global hydroelastic equation is established to capture the wave inhomogeneity. To compute the stress, external loads in the hydroelastic equation, comprising hydrodynamic and hydrostatic restoring pressures, as well as inertia forces, are mapped onto the finite element model of the continuous structure, enabling stress calculation by the quasi-static method. Variations in wave directions and heights along the longitudinal direction of the structure are introduced with the aim of exploring the effect of the wave inhomogeneity on the stress. A deliberately flexible barge is constructed to evaluate the stress resulting from global structural vibrations. The results demonstrate a significant contribution of wave inhomogeneity to the stress, particularly during structural resonance frequencies. Moreover, an exclusive phenomenon is observed whereby the inhomogeneous wave field induces stress due to anti-symmetric vibrations under beam sea conditions.