STATISTICAL ENERGY ANALYSIS OF OFFSHORE STRUCTURES

This paper briefly introduces the concepts of statistical energy analy sis (SEA) and then discusses the potential for using the approach in t he design of offshore marine structures. Some inherent limitations in the method as currently applied, mainly in the field of aerospace stru ctures, are indicated and suggestions made as to areas where further r esearch could be expected to overcome some of them. Of these, the prob lem of dealing with fluid actions in an SEA framework is perhaps most deserving of effort by the marine engineering community. A highly idea lized example is used to illustrate some of these points.