A Study on the Stochastic Aspects of the Whipping Vibrations in a Container Ship

<jats:p>The container carriers represent a challenge in the design process, where an important role play the estimation of design loads and their response. The wave-induced vibrations are often referred to as whipping as a transient phenomenon due to wave impacts and springing as a resonance phenomenon due to oscillating loads. These hydro-elastic vibratory phenomena’s are the most important consequences of the continuous increase in the ship length and low stiffness of the hull girder. While this is a concern in the marine industry, this phenomenon is not clearly considered in the design. Therefore, there are uncertainties associated with the wave-induced vibration intensity and the probability of occurrence of whipping to the sea state that needs to be clarified.</jats:p> <jats:p>This paper address the effect of the relationship of the characteristics of whipping vibration to the sea state, evaluating the results of a series of time-domain computational simulations. A numerical method that combines a three-dimensional panel method and FEA proposed by one of the co-authors is employed for evaluating the load effects. The calculations are performed for the respective short-term sea states. This study presents the probability of occurrence and vibration intensity of the whipping vibration experienced by a 6500 TEU container carrier in a North Atlantic Ocean route.</jats:p>