Using wavelet transforms to analyze nonlinear ship rolling and heave-roll coupling

The use of wavelet transforms is explored to investigate the nonlinear dynamical characteristics of ship roll and coupled heave-roll motion. The harmonic character, double period character and chaotic character are observed via a time-frequency window of the wavelet transform. Typical wave parameters in different stability regions are considered. Features such as restoring rolling, divergence rolling, steady state and chaotic responses of ship roll are obtained as well. The investigation in this paper not only highlights the feasibility of using wavelet transforms in the analysis of nonlinear dynamic characteristics of ship rolling in waves, but also shows how it could enhance the analysis abilities. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.