Comparison of Present Wave Induced Load Criteria with Loads Induced by an Abnormal Wave

In this work, values determined from existing design load criteria are compared with loads determined by a first principles based method that has the novelty of using a wave trace including an abnormal wave from a real field measurement. A time domain seakeeping code is used in the linear and non-linear variants to solve the equations of motion and assess the structural loads for oceangoing vessels. Linear and nonlinear calculations are compared in time domain for the S-175 containership with speed of advance. Nonlinear time domain computations are compared with experimental results from physical model tests with a moored FPSO. For both, the S-175 and the FPSO, probability domain comparisons are made between long-term probability distributions, experimental results and minimum rule requirements. The uncertainty associated even with methodologies strongly based on first principles is also discussed.