Hydroelastic Analysis and Experimental Validation of a 350,000 DWT Very Large Crude Carrier

Hydroelastic response of Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), such as springing and whipping, is very important for the fatigue strength analysis. In the present paper, numerical simulation and model test are conducted simultaneously on the springing responses of a 350,000DWT VLCC. The numerical simulation results are obtained by combining 2-D strip method and 3-D Finite Element Method (FEM) in the frequency domain. Meanwhile, the segmented model tests are conducted in three conditions. Additionally, the experimental time histories of wave bending moments in regular and irregular waves are presented. In conclusion, the methods and results presented in this paper have shown that the springing would be much easier when the VLCC is in ballast condition or the full loading conditions with reduced stiffness. The springing response will happen, when the wave encounter frequency is near to the half and one third of the ship’s flexural natural frequency. The numerical method presented is available for springing response analysis quickly with acceptable accuracy.