Effect of Short-Crestedness on Extreme Wave Impact: A Summary of Findings From the Joint Industry Project “ShorTCresT”

Long-crested waves are typically used in the design of offshore structures. However, the corresponding statistics, kinematics and loading are significantly different in short-crested waves and up to date, there is no state-of-the-art methodology to apply short-crested models instead. The objective of the “ShortCresT” Joint Industry Project was to take into account short-crestedness in the design of offshore structures against extreme waves based on a good description of their spectral characteristics, statistics, kinematics, breaking and loading and to deliver (empirical) design recommendations and methods. This paper gives an overview of the findings of ShorTCresT regarding wave crest and height distributions, a comparison of basin and field data, the role of wave breaking, the most realistic directional model, hindcast models as well as the related platform loading.Copyright © 2015 by ASME