Experimental Study on the Behavior of a Swimming Pool Onboard a Large Passenger Ship
The water in a swimming pool on the top deck of a large passenger ship can be excited to a resonant motion, even in a moderate sea state. The motion of the water in the pool is mainly caused by longitudinal acceleration, resulting from the ship's pitch and surge motions. At resonance, there can be high waves in the pool and splashing of water. In this study the behavior of the Solarium Pool of the Freedom of the Seas was examined in various sea states and operating conditions. The motions of the pool were calculated on the basis of a linear seakeeping method, and the behavior of the water in the pool was studied with experimental model tests. A large-scale model of the pool was constructed and fitted to a purpose-built test bench that could be axially moved by a computer-controlled hydraulic cylinder. Water elevation in the pool was measured, and all tests were video recorded. Different modifications of the pool were tested to improve the behavior of the pool. A strong correlation between the longitudinal motion and the behavior of the water in the pool was found.