Wave height measurement for MQK

When a structure is subjected to a cyclic mechanical load, cyclic stresses occur in that structure. Even when these stresses are well below the yield stress of the material used, the structure may lose integrity after a (large) number of cycles. An integrity loss shows as material cracking in areas where high stresses occur. This type of damage is called fatigue damage.

When a heavy transport object is shipped by sea, irregular cyclic loads will act on this object. In some cases these loads will cause fatigue damage. Little is known with respect to the actual level of fatigue damage sustained during a transport.

Measuring wave height and wave impact is a specialism that is not easy to accomplish. HMC is working together with several parties to develop a Wave Radar. The Wave Radar measures height and speed of a wave to determine the force of impact on the hull of a vessel or a towed structure. As a part of the Marine Quality Kit (MQK) the Wave Radar provides the missing link between stresses measured in the hull of a ship and the sea conditions at that very moment. The advantage to incorporating such system in the MQK is the diminishing need for weather and sea state reports, which are never as accurate as the actual wave height, speed and heading of the waves surrounding the ship.