Wave Drift Forces' Calculation on Two Floating Bodies Based on the Boundary Element Method—Attempt for Improvement of the Constant Panel Method

Abstract

An improved constant panel method for more accurate evaluation of wave drift forces and moment is proposed. The boundary element method (BEM) of solving boundary integral equations is used to calculate velocity potentials of floating bodies. The equations are discretized by either the higher-order boundary element method or the constant panel method. Though calculating the velocity potential via the constant panel method is simple, the results are unable to accurately evaluate wave drift forces and moment. An improved constant panel method is introduced to address these issues. The improved constant panel method can, without difficulty, employ the near-field method to evaluate wave drift forces and moment, especially for multiple floating bodies. Results of the new evaluation method will be compared with other evaluation method. Additionally, hydrodynamic interaction between multiple floating bodies will be assessed.