Experimental investigation on hydrodynamics of floating cylinder in oscillatory and steady flows by forced oscillation test

• Forced oscillation model tests were performed in towing tank.
• Hydrodynamics of floating cylinder in oscillatory flow are experimentally studied.
• Effects of KC and Re numbers are investigated.

In this paper the hydrodynamic characteristics of a floating cylinder are investigated via forced oscillation experiments in towing tank. The effects of Keulegan–Carpenter number, Reynolds number, reduced velocity and overtopping on hydrodynamics of the floating cylinder in oscillatory and steady flow are studied. The results show a considerably difference of the hydrodynamic characters between the floating and the fully immerged cylinders due to the influences of free surface. The growth of the reduced velocity, a proven notable effect on hydrodynamics, will lead to the increase of added mass coefficient and the decrease of drag coefficient. Meanwhile the overtopping, a particular phenomenon for the floating cylinder, render the added mass coefficients reach up to 3.6 while for the drag coefficient small influences were made.