Estimation of above water structural parameters and wind loads on ships

Abstract

Regression formulae to estimate above water structural parameters for estimating wind load coefficients are proposed. The regression formulae work with quite limited information, ship type and length overall. Additional input, ship breadth, if available, can improve the precision. Root-mean square of residual ratio in error analysis confirmed the estimated parameters explain well characteristics of the above water structural shape of ships. Wind load coefficients of ships are estimated by Fujiwara's second method in which the structural parameters estimated by the regression formulae are used. Wind tunnel test data proved that the estimated wind load coefficients have comparable precision to those estimated using true parameters. Application of the regression formulae to ships including those of whose sizes exceed the fleet that the formulae are based on confirmed its wide range of applicability.