Experimental study on the wave force loads on a large-scale cylinder by multidirectional waves

Wave force is the main load on the offshore structure, accurate predictions the wave loads on structures are significant in practice engineering design. Most of the research associated with wave interaction with structures has been focused on unidirectional waves. But in reality, sea waves are multidirectional. Based on a physical model experiment, the characteristics of wave force loads on a large-scale cylinder under multidirectional random waves action are studied systematically. The result shows that the wave directionality has an obvious impact on wave loads, especially on the transverse forces. For the wider directional distribution, the transverse force cannot be ignored anymore and is about 40% of the normal force. This fact needs to be taken into account in order to make accurate predictions of the wave loading on cylinders in practice.