Slender-body expressions for the wave load on offshore structures

Abstract

Expressions for the wave load on an offshore structure have recently been derived by several authors, by applying the classical slender-body approach to individual structural members. This paper shows that they are all special cases of a more general result, which covers a complete structure, including the effect of non-circular member cross-sections, joints between members, and surface intersections. This more general result cannot readily be derived by the methods adopted by the earlier authors; it relies on an energy argument.