Dynamic Stability Analysis of Backhoe Dredger Based on Time Domain Method

When incidents happen with the positioning spud of a backhoe dredger, the hull loses stability, heels significantly, and may even capsize under extreme conditions. Coupling the hydrodynamics and spud vibrations, this paper investigates the dynamic stability of a backhoe dredger after spud failure based on the time domain method. The maximum dynamic heeling angle verifies the stability of the backhoe dredger. To identify the influences of environmental load, operating conditions, and spud-soil interactions, numerical motion simulations were conducted in the time domain. The main conclusions on dynamic stability consider the influences of relative environmental and operational factors. This study provides a powerful and efficient approach to analyze the dynamic stability of backhoe dredgers and to design flooding angles.