Effects of location and shape of OWC-chamber on the hydroelastic response of VLFS

Abstract

A numerical investigation is made on the effects of location and shape of front wall of OWC (Oscillating Water Column) chamber on the hydroelastic response of VLFS. Most of studies on the effects of OWC chamber on response of VLFS have assumed the location of the OWC chamber at the front of VLFS. In the present study, an OWC-chamber is introduced at arbitrary position of VLFS to see the influence of the location and shape of OWC chamber on the hydroelastic response of VLFS. A finite element method is adopted as numerical scheme for fluid domain. Finite element method combined with mode superposition method is applied in order to consider change of mass and stiffness of OWC chamber in piecewise constant manner for analysis of the hydroelastic response of VLFS efficiently as well as modeling different shape and material property along the structure easily. Reduction of hydroelastic response of VLFS is investigated for various locations and front wall shapes of OWC chamber. Copyright ？ 2007 by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers(ISOPE).