Estimation of rogue wave loads on ship structures by exploiting linear wave theory

Nowadays, the severe climate changes, experience by the environment in the last decades, lead to a more frequent development and observation of abnormal waves (named also freak, giant or rogue waves), some of them responsible for severe accidents on ships and off shore structures. In this paper we exploit the possibility of simulating mono-directional sea states characterized by rogue wave occurrence, that is identified following the DNV-GL approach regarding wave height and crest height thresholds. An analysis of relevant wave train parameters is carried out. Once wave trains characterized by rogue wave occurrence are generated, numerical simulations of ship dynamics are carried out. This enables the possibility to detect the relative posi-tion between ship structures and wave crests depending on the characteristics of hull dynamics. Thereafter, the calculation of inertial and impact loads from rogue waves on ship structures is performed and the results of sample applications are discussed.