The Forces and Moments on a Heaving Surface Ship
Paul Golovato_
A broad investigation of the procedures for predicting the motion of ships in waves is being undertaken at the Taylor Model Basin. The present paper reports the results of the first phase of the program; that. is, the forces and moments on a heaving surface ship. The techniques are unique in the field of naval architecture although similar methods have been employed in aeronautical laboratories. It is believed that the results of the investigation supply a long standing need for accurate measurements of the forces on oscillating bodies.
A ship model was constrained to oscillate in heave and the forces and moments measured. This yielded the frequency, speed, and amplitude dependence of the added mass and damping and the cross-coupling moments. These measurements permitted the critical examination of the analytical procedures presently used in predicting ship motions. In addition, the existence of nonlinear forces is indicated and their influence on the motions explored.