A Study on the Vibration Characteristics of an 8,000 TEU Container Ship

To improve fuel efficiency and comply with environmental regulations, container ships continue to increase in size and adopt slow-steaming operations. Consequently, low-frequency excitation forces from engines and propellers are more likely to coincide with the natural frequencies of the container ship, making resonance-induced vibration a growing concern. This study investigates how mechanical excitations from the main engine and propeller affect the global vibration characteristics of an 8,000 TEU container ship. Free and forced vibration analyses based on the finite element method were carried out using MSC PATRAN/NASTRAN to evaluate the vibration characteristics of the container ship and full-scale vibration measurements were also conducted for validation. Through Campbell diagram, principal hull vibration modes and potential resonance regions are identified as process of free vibration analysis. It showed significant vibration responses in upper deck that mainly caused by the 2nd and 6th order excitation components of the main engine. The numerical results showed strong agreement with the experimental measurements, thereby confirming the reliability of the adopted analysis approach. These findings provide useful reference data for vibration evaluation and vibration reduction design of large container ships.