In-Line Forces on Vertical Cylinders in Deepwater Waves

Abstract

Laboratory measurements of the total in-line forces on a fixed vertical 2-in. diameter cylinder in deep-water regular and random waves are given and compared with predictions from the Morison equation. Results show, for regular waves with heights ranging from 2 to 22 in. and frequencies ranging from 0.4 to 0.9 Hz that the Morison equation, with Stokes wave theory and constant drag and inertia coefficients of 1.2 and 1.8, respectively, provides good agreement with the measured maximum wave forces. The force variation over the entire wave cycle is also well represented. The linearized Morison equation, with linear wave theory and the same coefficients likewise provides close agreement with the measured rms wave forces for irregular random waves having approximate Bretschneider spectra and significant wave heights from 5 to 14 in. The success of the constant-coefficient approximation is attributed to a decreased dependence of the coefficients on dimensionless flow parameters as a result of the circular particle motions and large kinematic gradients of the deep-water waves.