Effect of curvature on structural loading of prismatic bodies subjected to water slamming

In this study, nominally rigid, singly curved prismatic specimens of varying curvature are subjected to water slamming at a range of velocities relevant to those encountered by high performance offshore racing yachts. The experimental aspect of the study is carried out using a Servo-Hydraulic Slam Testing System (SSTS) which is capable of slamming large scale specimens representative of full scale structures such as yacht hull panels. Numerical simulations of this fluid-structure interaction problem are conducted using a coupled Finite Element - Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics approach. Numerical simulations are performed and validated using the LS-DYNA solver. Results of panel modelling demonstrate good correlation with experimental results and indicate that curved bodies experience a much higher initial loading than rigid wedges, which then abates to a quasi-constant residual load. This difference in load profile varies significantly from that found in flat panels. These factors, when considered in the design of structures incorporating curvature, have the potential to produce more optimized and failure resistant structures.