| Abstract | Severe wave impact on the usually flat undersite of the cross structure of SWATH ships moving in severe seas can cause large impulsive upward acceleration of the bow. It also exerts large secondary loads on the local structure and may cause the whole hull to vibrate, which accelerates structural fatigue. Although increasing the wetdeck clearance may alleviate the slamming impacts, it may have adverse effects, including increasing the magnitude of the prying moment in the cross structure, and worsening the ship's stability. In this study, therefore, an alternative method of reducing the SWATH wetdeck slamming impact by the use of elastomer bonded to the underside of the wetdeck was investigated. The concept is based on the finding that an elastomeric layer of optimal elasticity bonded to the underside of flat surfaces could significantly reduce the impact force when they were dropped vertically on calm water. |
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