Nonlinear Effects of Wave Height and Speed on Hydroelastic Response of a 20 000 TEU container ship in Regular Waves

Abstract

This study investigates the nonlinear hydroelastic responses of a 20 000 TEU container ship in regular waves using a two-way coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology. A hull girder model incorporating actual ship modal shapes was developed, with Star-CCM + -Abaqus coupling simulations performed across Sea State level 7–9 conditions and full-speed range (0–23 kn). The numerical framework was validated through rigorous time-step and grid convergence studies as well as comparisons with segmented model tests. Detailed analyses were conducted on heave and pitch motions, vertical acceleration distributions, longitudinal sectional loads, time-frequency characteristics, and hogging-sagging asymmetry. Results indicate that increasing wave height significantly amplifies nonlinear effects, particularly in bow acceleration, where high-frequency (HF) load components grow disproportionately compared to wave-frequency (WF) components, intensifying slamming impacts. Similarly, speed increases not only shift motion response frequencies but also excite structural resonance near the 2-node wet mode at high speeds, dramatically elevating bow HF loads and aggravating hogging-sagging asymmetry. These findings demonstrate wave height and speed effects on hydroelastic responses in high sea states, supporting structural optimization and safety control for ultra-large container ships.

Keywords

Two-way FSI coupling / Hydroelasticity / High sea states / Slamming / Hogging–sagging asymmetry

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Harbin Engineering University and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature