An improved simplified method for predicting the hydroelastic response of mat-like VLFS

Very Large Floating Structures (VLFS) have received considerable attention recently. Efficient and accurate estimation of their hydroelastic responses in waves is very important for the design. The most efficient approach wou ld obviously be the analytical one, Within the category of analytical appro aches, the simplified method proposed by Ohkusu and his colleague are of sp ecial characteristics. However, when one studies their methods, several que stions arise. The purpose of this paper is to critically study the simplifi ed methods proposed by Ohkusu and his colleague in order to answer these qu estions. Some problems in their original methods have been found and possib le improvements are suggested. It is concluded that the improved simplified method using the same idea of Ohkusu and his colleague could provide a rea sonable estimate of the hydroelastic response of mat-like VLFS in a certain range of incident angles of waves.