Experimental Research on Added Resistance of KVLCC2 in Short Wave Dominated Irregular Waves

Abstract In recent years, with the trend of larger and greener vessels, the issue of added resistance dominated by short waves in the operation of ultra-large ships in actual sea areas has attracted increasing attention. Towing tank experiments, as one of the important research methods, have traditionally focused on added resistance in the presence of long and medium regular waves and their dominant irregular wave counterparts. However, due to limitations such as ship model size and the tank’s wave-generating capabilities, in-depth studies on added resistance in irregular waves dominated by short waves have not been extensively conducted. This study, based on the multifunctional towing tank at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, employs a 4.5-meter-long KVLCC2 ship model to investigate added resistance in long-crested irregular waves dominated by short waves. The study examines the effects of spectral peak period and significant wave height on wave-added resistance, and discusses the influence of allowing the model’s surge motion on the added resistance. Furthermore, a comparative spectral analysis with regular short wave resistance experiments conducted under the same conditions in the same towing tank is presented, highlighting the differences between directly simulating irregular wave experiments and performing spectral analysis on results from regular wave simulations. These findings deeper understanding of the physical mechanisms behind added resistance of ultra large vessels at real seas, which is critical given the ongoing trend of vessel enlargement and environmental sustainability in the maritime industry.