The influence of inertial effects on the mean forces and moments on a ship sailing in oblique waves part A: A new measurement device for wave forces

A new experimental device designed and built at Technische Universität Berlin for measuring forces and moments on a ship in waves is described and results of a comprehensive test campaign with the model of cruise ship are discussed. Forces, moments and motions on/of the model have been obtained during tests at forward speed in head waves and at zero speed in oblique incoming waves. Single motions have been restrained during these tests in order to analyse their influence on the mean forces and on other motions. The device allows for extracting non hydrodynamic inertial force contributions from the measured signals. The mean values of these inertial forces are not always zero, but often very significant, and must therefore be subtracted for a reliable comparison with mean wave forces and moments predicted by numerical simulations.