Characteristics of wave loading and structural response of mat-type VLFS due to waves

Abstract

This paper aims to build up an initial design guide for determining global structural stiffness of mat-type VLFS by investigating bending moments and induced structural stresses for wide range of the structure size and environmental conditions. A numerically efficient eigenfunction expansion method is adopted for intensive hydroelastic analysis. It is shown that an appropriate structural stiffness of mat-type VLFS could be found through the parametric analyses and the results can give physical insight on wave loading and structural response of mat-type VLFS to structure designers. Copyright ？ 2004 by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers.