Integrated Seakeeping Motion & Hydrodynamic Loads Prediction

The MAESTRO-Wave module provides the ship designer with an integrated frequency-domain/time-domain computational tool to predict the motions and wave loads of floating structures. Because this tool is integrated into the MAESTRO interface, the learning curve is greatly reduced and the need to transfer data between programs is eliminated.  MAESTRO-Wave takes advantage of the existing structural mesh and defined loads to formulate the equations of motion.  This approach results in a perfect equilibrium for the structural model so no inertia relief or artificial loads are required to balance the model. Bending moments, shear forces and torsional moments are all automatically in closure.  MAESTRO-Wave can also account for tank sloshing loads and provides several roll damping options. The computation of hydrodynamic forces is based on one of several user-selected analysis methods:

• 3D panel potential theory using the zero speed Green function with a speed correction parameter
• 2D Strip Theory using either the Free Surface Green Function or the Rankine Source Method
• 5D High Speed Strip Theory using the Rankine Source Method including the forward speed term

Regardless of the method used, the MAESTRO-Wave output provides a unit wave database and panel pressure loads for all of the speeds, headings, and wave frequencies run.  A variety of visualizations and output data are available to aid the user with post-processing.

Extreme Load Analysis (ELA)

The ELA module allows the user to calculate hull girder load response RAOs, and provides the necessary short-term and long-term statistical computations to predict extreme values of the maximum loads for a given vessel. This includes the ability to define or import wave scatter diagrams, operational profiles, and wave spectra, as well as to compute hull girder RAOs for the most common dominant load parameters (e.g., vertical bending moment). Finally, extreme equivalent regular waves (equivalent design waves) are internally computed and selected for assessment of extreme global loads. The user has a variety of options to add still water loads to the wave-induced loads and to re-balance these components.

Spectral Fatigue Analysis (SFA)

The SFA module provides the ability to perform global fatigue screening of the vessel and introduces additional functionality to the ELA module to compute Stress and Displacement RAOs, define and associate structural groups to SN curves and Stress Concentration Factors (SCFs), and compute fatigue damage based on the Miner cumulative damage principle.