VisualSMP is a suite of tools used in the prediction and analysis of a ship’s seakeeping characteristics. Included in VisualSMP is the SMP95 strip theory based frequency domain seakeeping program, the SEP96 seakeeping analysis program, the STH97 time history program, and the SWMP96 SWATH seakeeping program, all developed by the US Navy. The US Navy has selected Proteus Engineering to distribute these tools commercially, and Proteus has used its experience in seakeeping analysis and software development to integrate and extend them, resulting in VisualSMP. VisualSMP adds a graphical pre- and post-processor, together with tools to simulate and visualize the motion of the ship in a seaway.

With SMP95, VisualSMP provides predictions of ship motions (i.e. displacements, velocities, and accelerations) for a ship advancing at constant speed, on arbitrary headings in both regular waves and irregular seas. The irregular seas are modeled using either the two parameter Bretschneider, the three parameter Jonswap, or the six parameter Ochi-Hubble wave spectral models. Both long-crested and short-crested results are provided; short-crested waves are generated using a cosine squared spreading function. In addition to the 6DOF responses, SMP95 will predict the absolute motion, velocity, and acceleration, as well as the relative motion and velocity for various locations on the ship. SMP95 will calculate the probabilities and frequencies of submergence, emergence, and/or slamming occurrence for various locations on the ship. It also incorporates recent innovations for calculating added resistance in waves based on the work by Wen-Chin Lin and Arthur Reed, as documented in their paper "The Second Order Steady Force and Moment On a Ship Moving In An Oblique Seaway".

Proteus has developed the graphical pre- and post-processor using the Microsoft Windows GUI. These tools speed the data input process and provide graphical tools to view the computed results. SMP95 input models consist of hull offsets, appendage dimensions, and controller coefficients. The hull offsets are described to the system as points on sections, including the stem and stern profile. Both transverse and longitudinal knuckles are allowed. The user may input up to 70 stations and 70 points per station, and may choose from the following list of appendage types to include in the calculations: Sonar Dome, Bilge Keels, Passive Fins, Active Fins, Shaft Brackets, Propellers, Propeller Shafting, Skeg, Rudders, and Roll Tanks.

The Seakeeping Evaluation Program (SEP96) can be used to estimate the seaworthiness of SWATH or monohull ships early in the design process. Estimation of the seaworthiness of ships can be useful in several ways. In early design studies, prediction of the effect of hull form modifications on ship motions can have an impact on the design, permitting the selection of a seaworthy hull form, from among those which meet other design requirements. The ability to readily analyze the relationship between hull form modifications and seaworthiness can allow consideration of many hull forms in a short period of time. Once a ship has been built, estimation of seaworthiness utilizing frequency domain prediction methods can facilitate prediction of the potential ability of the ship to carry out a new mission. This facilitates consideration of the effect of hull form modifications on performance.

Required input data for the SEP96 includes motion transfer functions which have been generated by either the SWMP96 or SMP95 as well as data files which contain results from analysis of Spectral Ocean Wave Model (SOWM) data. This data defines the joint probability of occurrence of significant wave height, spectral modal (peak) period, and wind speed for various geographical locations.

VisualSMP uses transfer functions to generate time histories for the waves and the vessel motions in irregular seas, in 6 degrees of freedom. Both the numerical time histories and the cosine coefficients for use in visualizations and simulations are computed.