9/3/2014 1

MEMORANDUM
DATE: September 3, 2014

TO: A. W. Troesch, NA 540 Instructor
FROM: Claudio Farias de Lima, Engr.
RE: HO#01 - Modeling issues and resulting dynamics of marine systems



This report aims to analyze two videos related to the movement of ships in bad weather condition,
identify critical aspects of the dynamics and offer suggestions on how these might be mitigated.

These videos show examples of parametric rolling, as the wave crest travels along the hull, it results in
flare immersion in the wave crest and the bow comes down. The stability (GM) varies as a result of
pitching and rolling of the ship. The combination of buoyancy and wave excitation forces push the ship
to the other side and similar action takes place as the bow goes down in the next wave cycle resulting in
synchronous motion which leads to heavy rolling up to 30 degree in a few cycles.

To mitigate this phenomenon, avoid a head on sea and change the route if rolling and pitching occurs
simultaneously.

9/3/2014 2

NA540 MOTIVATIONAL HANDOUT #1

MODELING ISSUES AND RESULTING DYNAMICS OF MARINE SYSTEMS

In this first homework, the dynamics of floating vessels subject to incident waves will be
discussed. Since you are an esteemed student of naval architecture and marine engineering, Fox
News has sought your opinion on violent vessel motions as shown in the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2fEv1jr7Vc
http://www.digyourowngrave.com/cruise-ship-voyager-experiencing-parametric-rolling/

You are asked to comment on the videos and offer insight that otherwise might not be apparent to
the less well-informed viewer. The goal of your short response is to identify critical aspects of the
dynamics and perhaps offer suggestions on how these might be mitigated. While this is a specific
example, the issues raised and their resolution are generic and widely applicable to other marine
(and non-marine) dynamic problems that you will see in this class.

For the application considered here, assume that a linear or nonlinear analysis, yet
to be defined, will be used to predict the motions of a vessel exhibiting the dynamics of the
videos. One source of external excitation is due to incident waves (Random? Short-
crested? Extreme?) .

FILL IN THE INFORMATION BELOW AND RETURN IN CLASS ON SEPT. 5:

NAME__CLAUDIO FARIAS DE LIMA____________ September 3, 2014

1) List below 5 critical aspects of your analysis and whether a linear or nonlinear,
deterministic or random, analysis, will be used to study the aspect..

i) Large roll movement (nonlinear/random)
ii) Pitching and roll movements coupled (nonlinear/random)
iii) The combination of buoyancy and wave excitation forces (nonlinear/random)
iv) Wave excitation forces (linear/random)
v) The stability (GM) varies as a result of pitching and rolling of the ship
(linear/random)