Application of Wavelet Algorithm to Spectral Analysis of Oceanic Waves and Offshore Structure Responses

Fourier transform （FF） is a commonly used method in spectral analysis of ocean wave and offshore structure responses, but it is not suitable for records of short length. In this paper another method, wavelet transform （WT）, is applied to ＇analyze the data of short length. The Morlet wavelet is employed to calculate the spectra density functions for wave records and simulated Floating Production Storage and Offloading （FPSO） vessels＇ responses. Computed wave data include simulated wave data based on JONSWAP spectrum and the recorded data of Storm 149 from North Alwyn. Wavelet method is validated by comparing the statistical characteristics by WF method and those by fast Fourier transform （FFT） method with those of target spectra. The spectral density fnnctions＇ shapes calculated by WT are less malformed and have less error of statistical characteristics compared with those by FT especially when the record lengths decrease.