General Procedure for Lifetime Seaway Load Estimation (LSLE) With Examples

This report provides a consistent, unified approach for U.S. Navy calculation and evaluation of lifetime seaway load estimation (LSLE). The procedure applies to any surface ship type. The steps in the unified procedure for estimating lifetime seaway loads using model, full-scale, simulation, or analytic data are described and illustrated with examples. The unified LSLE procedure is a first principles approach, traceable with respect to assumptions and calculations. The calculations, except possibly for estimated parameter tolerance limits, can be performed on current desktop computers. The intent is to have all pertinent theory, along with examples, in one document. New methods for estimating combined loads, for estimating distribution parameter values when both low-frequency and high-frequency components are present, and estimating extreme values when combined loads are present are described.