INFLUENCES OF WAVE STRETCHING ON THE RESPONSE OF WAVE-EXCITED OFFSHORE PLATFORMS

Critical examinations are reported for the effects of wave stretching on realistic representations of the wave forces that act on offshore s tructures. Examinations are also made for the, importance of such effe cts on the corresponding structural responses, and it is demonstrated that the effects of stretching on the governing wave forces and the re sulting structural responses are small, indicating that they can be ig nored in design practice. Valuable insight is further provided into th e definition of the wave excitation, and physical interpretations are made which show that the actions of stretching cannot materially influ ence the governing excitation and the corresponding structural respons e.