Experimental Studies of the Behavior of Spar Type Stable Platforms in Waves

Abstract : Newman has developed a linearized theory for the motions of a slender body of revolution, with vertical axis, which is floating in the presence of regular waves. In the present paper a series of experimental investigations were made and compared with Newman's theory. Experimental measurements of motions were made in regular and irregular long crested waves. Pressures at several locations on the models were also measured and compared with the theory. The measurements of motions give excellent agreement with theory for slender body. An extended formula was developed for heave motion for small slenderness ratio of the body. The theoretical prediction for pressure on the body also was found to give excellent agreement with the experimental measurement except near the free surface. Observation of vortex generation was made by electrolysis.