Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the diffraction-radiation problem of hydrodynamically compact structures

The finite element method for solving the linear floating body hydrodynamic problem is considered with a hierarchy of boundary damper options for modelling the far field. The computer program is validated using two simple examples for which added mass and damping coefficients are computed over a wide range of frequencies. The program is applied to the ISSC TLP, being a typical practical example for which a large scatter in numerical results is reported in the literature. © 1995.