Numerical and experimental comparison of the dynamic behaviour of superyacht structure

A new trend in motoryacht design is represented by Explorer vessels; as this new typology encountered a large appreciation among potential owners, many shipyards started to develop new projects in this regard. From the operative point of view the main characteristic, which differentiate Explorer vessels from traditional ones, is the higher strength required by the hull structures in order to be compliant with Ice class rules. On the other hand, in the owner’s perspective, the on-board comfort remains the driving parameter to be fulfilled. Therefore, more detailed studies on the dynamic structural behaviour, supported by experimental investigations, became mandatory. In this paper, a 40 meter ID Ice class superyacht built by Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN), under delivery at the time being, has been elected as a study case and a comparison between experimental FE vibration analyses has been carried out during the construction period in order to validate the numerical procedure and highlight any criticisms in early design stages.