A Theoretical Model for Ship–Wave Impact Generated Sea Spray

Abstract

Spray generated by ships traveling in cold oceans often leads to topside icing, which can be dangerous to vessels. Estimation of the spray flux is a first step in predicting icing accumulation. The amount of spray water, the duration of exposure to the spray, and the frequency at which the spray is generated are all important parameters in estimating the spray flux. Most existing spray flux formulae are based on field observations from small fishing vessels. They consider meteorological and oceanographic parameters but neglect the vessel behavior. Ship heave and pitch motions, together with ship speed, determine the frequency of spray events. Thus, the existing formulae are not generally applicable to different sizes and types of vessels. This paper develops simple methods to quantify spray properties in terms that can be applied to vessels of any size or type. Formulae to estimate water content and spray duration are derived based on principles of energy conservation and dimensional analysis. To estimate spray frequency considering ship motions, a theoretical model is proposed. The model inputs are restricted to ship’s principal particulars, operating conditions, and environmental conditions. Wave-induced motions are estimated using semi-empirical analytical expressions. A novel spray threshold is developed to separate deck wetness frequency from spray frequency. Spray flux estimates are validated against full-scale field measurements available in the open literature with reasonable agreement.