... HYDROELASTICITY OF VLFS: ALLOWANCES FOR FLEXIBLE CONNECTORS, GILL CELLS, ARBITRARY SHAPES AND STOCHASTIC WAVES GAO RUIPING (M.Eng., B.Eng., Southeast University, China) A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR ... method for hydroelastic analysis of VLFSs with arbitrary shapes The shaping of the front edges and end edges of longish VLFS is explored with the view to reduce the hydroelastic response of VLFS ... analysis of VLFS, ways for reducing hydroelastic response of VLFS, hydroelastic analysis of the VLFS under stochastic waves are presented Finally, the objectives of the thesis are articulated and...