Nonlinear Hydrodynamic Forces on Flexible Structures: A Combined-Force Model

Abstract

A new combined-force method is suggested to approximate the second-order difference frequency forces from diffraction theory (Φ2 theory) with less computational effort. The new method is formulated by combining two limiting cases of the Φ2 theory; i.e., Newman’s approximation and the slender Φ2 theory. Numerical results show that the new method reproduces the individual nonlinear effects of the Φ2 theory better than the existing approximations. Results of this work also show the limitations of Morison’s equation as the slender-body counterpart of the diffraction theory for nonlinear problems.