Wave Mechanics and Wave Loads on Marine Structures

The analysis, design and construction of off-shore structures is arguably one of the most demanding sets of tasks faced by the engineering profession. Over and above the usual conditions and situations met by land-based structures, off-shore structures have the added complication of being placed in an ocean environment where hydrodynamic interaction effects and dynamic response become major considerations in their design. A basic understanding of a number of key subject areas is essential to an engineer likely to be involved in the design of offshore structures. This book provides a broad overview of some of the key factors in the analysis and design of offshore structures to be considered by an engineer uninitiated in the field of offshore engineering. Topics covered range from water wave theories, structure-fluid interaction in waves to the prediction of extreme values of response from spectral modeling approaches. It presents a new outlook on the measurement of wave forces on ocean structures, uniting the deterministic and probabilistic methodologies to wave theory and linking the methods used in field and experimental measurement.