Investigation of slamming loads during seaplane water landing under regular wave conditions

The safety of seaplane operations during water landings is critically influenced by wave-induced slamming loads, particularly in emergency scenarios. This study employs a validated numerical model incorporating heave and pitch motions to investigate the effects of wave phase angle, initial water contact point, and pitch angle on slamming dynamics. Peak vertical overloads are most severe during wave crest and trough landings due to rapid expansion of the hull–wave contact area. A water particle velocity factor, accounting for the relative motion between the seaplane and waves, is introduced to establish a linear correlation between peak impact loads and wetted area for nearly all phase angles. The results demonstrate that forward displacement of the initial water contact point reduces peak loads, while variations in pitch angle exhibit non-monotonic behavior. Maximum loading occurs at 0° pitch due to full hull engagement, while a 6° pitch induces a localized near-parallel contact of the aftbody with the wave surface, resulting in a rebound in the peak load. The results provide support for predicting transient loads and optimizing structural designs to withstand slamming loads.