Computation of the ocean‐wave forces on inclined cylinders

After a review of the assumptions in the wave force formula for vertical cylinders proposed by Morison, O'Brien, Johnson, and Schaaf [1950], a formula embodying the same assumptions is advanced for the determination of the wave forces on an arbitrarily oriented cylinder. Essentially the x components of the water‐particle velocity and acceleration in the vertical‐cylinder formula are each replaced by the component of the vector (velocity or acceleration) which is perpendicular to the cylinder axis and in the plane common to the vector and the cylinder axis. The resulting equation is expressed in vector and matrix notation. A concise computational procedure which allows the use of either variable or constant coefficients is outlined and a sample calculation is provided.