Water Entry of a Wedge by Hydroelastic Orthotropic Plate Theory

Water entry of a hull with wedge-shaped cross sections is analyzed. The stiffened platings between two transverse girders on each side of the keel are separately modeled. Orthotropic plate theory is used. The effect of structural vibrations on the fluid flow is incorporated by solving the two-dimensional Laplace equation in the cross-sectional fluid domain by a generalized Wagner's theory. The coupling with the plate theory provides three-dimensional flow effects. The theory is validated by comparison with full-scale experiments and drop tests. The importance of global ship accelerations is pointed out. Hydrodynamic and structural error sources are discussed. Systematic studies on the importance of hydroelasticity as a function of deadrise angle and impact velocity are presented. This can be related to the ratio between the wetting time of the structure and the greatest wet natural period of the stiffened plating. This ratio is proportional to the deadrise angle and inversely proportional to the impact velocity. A small ratio-means that hydroelasticity is important and a large ratio means that hydroelasticity is not important.