Nonlinear wave loads on a vertical cylinder

Abstract

Nonlinear contributions due to elevation of the free surface, the dynamic head, and the second-order velocity potential on the wave loads are presented in closed-form expressions. Such nonlinearities resulting from large-amplitude ocean waves are associated with the irrotational flow interacting with a fixed bottom-mounted vertical cylinder piercing the surface. These are expressed in the form of dynamic, waterline and quadratic forces all of which depend on the square of the wave amplitude. The appropriate modifications are made to both the classical Morison equation and the well-known linear diffraction theory of MacCamy and Fuchs for accounting the second-order effects. A limited comparative study is performed to verify the present theoretical derivations. In general, satisfactory agreements have been obtained with the test results from various laboratory studies by different researchers. However, under certain environmental conditions, some discrepancies still exist with the measured results.