An experimental investigation into whole body vibration generated during the hydroelastic slamming of a high speed craft

This paper describes an experimental investigation to determine whether hydroelasticity can affect the WBV of HSC using quasi-2D and full-scale drop tests. The quasi-2D tests revealed that hydroelasticity affected peak acceleration and Vibration Dosage Value (VDV), and that a wooden hull generated higher magnitude WBV than fabric hulls. The full-scale drop tests employed an inflatable lifeboat and the internal pressures of the sponson and keel controlled the hydroelasticity. The full-scale results showed that peak acceleration and VDV reduced while decreasing the internal pressures at the transom and crew locations; however, peak acceleration and VDV increased at the bow. Furthermore, the ability of fabric structures to reduce the mass of HSC is discussed. Incorporating hydroelasticity shows potential, alongside other reduction strategies, to alleviate human exposure to vibration of HSC.