Homoclinic connections and period doublings of a ship advancing in quartering waves.
The large-amplitude motions of a ship running in waves are analyzed with a mathematical model reduced to a system of eight coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Bifurcation analysis in relation to the surf-riding condition, with control parameter the angle of the rudder, shows the existence of a region of oscillatory behavior, containing also a chaotic domain. This region ends with a homoclinic connection and a dangerous jump toward the overtaking-wave mode, which can incur ship capsize. Addition of linear control removes the chaotic domain while giving rise to new regions of oscillation. (c) 1996 American Institute of Physics.
Spyrou
K. J.
KJ
National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering, Ebidai, Hasaki, Kashima, Ibaraki, 314-04, Japan.