• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.16-21
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• 2010

During the loading/offloading operation of a liquefied natural gas carrier (LNGC) that is moored in a side-by-side configuration with an offshore plant, sloshing that occurs due to the partially filled LNG tank and the interactive effect between the two floating bodies are important factors that affect safety and operability. Therefore, a time-domain software program, called CHARM3D, was developed to consider the interactions between sloshing and the motion of a floating body, as well as the interactions between multiple bodies using the potential-viscous hybrid method. For the simulation of a floating body in the time domain, hydrodynamic coefficients and wave forces were calculated in the frequency domain using the 3D radiation/diffraction panel program based on potential theory. The calculated values were used for the simulation of a floating body in the time domain by convolution integrals. The liquid sloshing in the inner tanks is solved by the 3D-FDM Navier-Stokes solver that includes the consideration of free-surface non-linearity through the SURF scheme. The computed sloshing forces and moments were fed into the time integration of the ship's motion, and the updated motion was, in turn, used as the excitation force for liquid sloshing, which is repeated for the ensuing time steps. For comparison, a sloshing motion coupled analysis program based on linear potential theory in the frequency domain was developed. The computer programs that were developed were applied to the side-by-side offloading operation between the offshore plant and the LNGC. The frequency-domain results reproduced the coupling effects qualitatively, but, in general, the peaks were over-predicted compared to experimental and time-domain results. The interactive effects between the sloshing liquid and the motion of the vessel can be intensified further in the case of multiple floating bodies.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.219-236
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• 2013

The accurate prediction of motion in waves of a marine vehicle is essential to assess the maximum sea state vs. operational requirements. This is particularly true for small crafts, such as Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV). Two different numerical methods to predict motions of a SWATH-ASV are considered: an inviscid strip theory initially developed at MIT for catamarans and then adapted for SWATHs and new a hybrid strip theory, based on the numerical solution of the radiation forces by an unsteady viscous, non-linear free surface flow solver. Motion predictions obtained by the viscous flow method are critically discussed against those obtained by potential flow strip theory. Effects of viscosity are analyzed by comparison of sectional added mass and damping calculated at different frequencies and for different sections, RAOs and motions response in irregular waves at zero speed. Some relevant conclusions can be drawn from this study: influence of viscosity is definitely non negligible for SWATH vessels like the one presented: amplitude of the pitch and heave motions predicted at the resonance frequency differ of 20% respectively and 50%; in this respect, the hybrid method with fully non-linear, viscous free surface calculation of the radiation forces turns out to be a very valuable tool to improve the accuracy of traditional strip theories, without the burden of long computational times requested by fully viscous time domain three dimensional simulations.