Characteristics of bow-flare slamming and hydroelastic vibrations of a vessel in severe irregular waves investigated by segmented model experiments

Bow-flare slamming of vessels is a reason of concern in the field of naval architecture. Severe slamming loads can result in not only local structure damages but also transient whipping loads. Global whipping oscillations increase both the extreme load and fatigue load effects occurring in ships. This paper provides an experimental investigation of bow-flare slamming loads and global hydroelastic vibrations of a vessel in severe irregular waves. Hydroelastic experiments by a segmented scaled model have been conducted in an ultra-long hydrodynamic basin. Responses of motion, acceleration, sectional load and slamming pressure of the model were measured corresponding to different wave conditions and sailing speeds. The characteristics of motions, accelerations and sectional loads under different conditions are analyzed by spectral method. The bow-flare slamming pressures are characterized and discussed from different aspects in detail. Moreover, the relationship between slamming pressures and the hull global responses is presented and discussed.