The structural response of an oscillating wave surge converter to wave slamming

This paper describes the problems in experimentally obtaining hydrodynamic loads on an oscillating wave surge converter during slamming events, with the aim of furthering understanding of full scale hydrodynamic loads that flap type devices must be designed to withstand. Including how hydro-elastic effects and structural response are linked and why they are essential to the measurement of impulsive hydrodynamic loads. A combined experimental and numerical structural response study carried out on a 40th scale Oyster model drew conclusions on the structural vibration observed in the strain gauge load cell measurement. A further structural response study on a piezo electric load measurement device gave an insight into the advantages it could bring to reducing hydro-elastic effects.