What is the difference between a frequency domain and a time domain mooring analysis?

Frequency domain and time domain analysis

In a frequency domain mooring analysis the wave loads are defined in terms of wave frequency and direction. The wave heights are not specified. The analysis is performed in the frequency domain meaning that the wave loads are given as complex loads with real and imaginary parts that together describe the load value and phase shift compared with the incoming wave. The analysis may be static or dynamic and demands limited computer resources.

In a time domain analysis deterministic waves with given periods and heights are time-stepped through the structure. The structural response is computed for each time step for each wave. This type of analysis demands more computer resources than the frequency domain approach. Sesam has tools for doing both frequency (Mimosa) and time domain (DeepC) analysis.