Asymmetric Hydrodynamic Impact and Dynamic Response of Vessels

Abstract

Theoretical simulations are compared with drop test experiments of vessel free-fall impact on calm water, with zero and nonzero initial heel angles. The impact force and moment are predicted by using a theory described in Xu et al. (1998). The resulting motions of vessels at asymmetric impact include vertical water entry and transverse rolling. The downward deceleration equation combines the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces and the weight of hull, while the rolling equation takes into account the restoring moments due to asymmetry. Another simplified approach of a water entry dynamics and injury model (Gollwitzer and Peterson, 1996) is also applied to evaluate the impact acceleration for symmetric cases. The experiments were conducted at the Coastal Systems Station, Panama City, Florida, using a 2 ft × 8 ft (0.61 m × 2.44 m) prismatic hull model with 20 deg deadrise. The comparisons between the asymmetric impact theory and experiment shows varying degrees of qualitative and quantitative agreement.