Three-dimensional hydroelasticity theory of ships in waves and ocean-acoustic environment with applications

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The three-dimensional (3D) hydroelasticity theory of floating structures established in 1984 embodies the predictions of seakeeping behaviors, structural loads, dynamic strength, fatigue, and vibration of a surface ship or an underwater vehicle travelling in the sea in a unified generalized fluid-structure interaction theory. After more than thirty years of development, this theory has been further extended to two main branches: the 3D hydroelasticity theories for examining the wave excited dynamic responses of ships, and the 3D hydroelasticity theories for investigating the machinery or propeller excited vibrations and underwater acoustic radiations of a ship. The latter is also called the 3D sono-elasticity theory of ships. Drawn by the momentum gained from the comprehensive demand of marine applications, China Ship Scientific Research Center (CSSRC) has been devoted to the systematic innovative research in creating the linear and non-linear 3D hydroelasticity theories of ships, the 3D hydroelasticity theory of floating structures deployed in complicated ocean geographical environment near islands and reefs, the 3D sono-elasticity theory of ships in ocean acoustic environment etc. together with developing the numerical methods and corresponding software. These have been extensively employed to solve the key technical problems, such as motion and structural response predictions, behavior and safety assessment, design check and optimization of surface ships, underwater vehicles and other marine structures, This paper is not to present the state of the art of the worldwide development of hydroelasticity theories, but to concisely described the concept and framework of the 3D hydroelasticity and sono-elasticity theories of ships which are mainly developed by the research group of CSSRC. Typical application examples of the hydroelastic analyses of a 500000 DWT ultra large ore carrier and an 8-module very large floating structure, as well as the sono-elastic analysis of a simplified submarine model are also briefly illustrated. Finally, simply mentioned are the important directions of future research in the field of hydroelasticity and sono-elasticity of ships.