Stiffness of mooring lines and performance of floating breakwater in three dimensions

In the present paper, the performance of a moored floating breakwater under the action of normal incident waves is investigated in the frequency domain. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of the floating body is coupled with a static and dynamic model of the mooring lines, using an iterative procedure. The stiffness coefficients of the mooring lines in six degrees of freedom of the floating breakwater are derived based on the differential changes of mooring lines' tensions caused by the static motions of the floating body. The model of the moored floating system is compared with experimental and numerical results of other investigators. An extensive parametric study is performed to investigate the effect of different configurations (length of mooring lines and draft) on the performance of the moored floating breakwater. The draft of the floating breakwater is changed through the appropriate modification of mooring lines' length. Numerical results demonstrate the effects of the wave characteristics and mooring lines' conditions (slack-taut). The existence of ‘optimum’ configuration of the moored floating breakwater in terms of wave elevation coefficients and mooring lines' forces is clearly demonstrated, through a decision framework.     

Scattering of gravity waves by multiple surface-piercing floating membrane

Interaction of surface gravity waves with multiple vertically moored surface-piercing membrane breakwaters in finite water depth is analyzed based on the linearized theory of water waves. The study is carried out using least square approximation method to understand the effect of the vertical membrane as effective breakwater. Initially the problem is studied for a single membrane wave barrier but for the case of multiple membrane breakwaters the study is carried out using the method of wide-spacing approximation. In the present study, it is observed that the deflection of the membrane is reduced with the increase in the stiffness parameter of the mooring lines attached to the membrane. In the case of single surface-piercing membrane with moored and fixed edge conditions, the reflection and transmission coefficients are compared and analyzed in detail. The resonating pattern in the reflection coefficients are also observed for multiple floating membrane which can also be referred as Bragg's resonance. In the presence of the porosity constant the wave reflection is also observed to be decreasing and the change in the distance between the vertical floating breakwaters also helps in the attenuation of wave height. It is observed that the presence of multiple floating breakwater helps in the reduction of wave height in the transmitted region.     

Performance of pile-restrained flexible floating breakwaters

The overall performance of pile-restrained flexible floating breakwaters is investigated under the action of linear monochromatic incident waves in the frequency domain. The aforementioned floating breakwaters undergo only vertical structural deflections along their length and are held in place by means of vertical piles. The total number of degrees of freedom equals the six conventional body modes, when the breakwater moves as a rigid body, plus the extra bending modes. These bending modes are introduced to represent the structural deflections of the floating breakwater and are described by the Bernoulli–Euler flexible beam equation. The number of bending modes introduced is determined through an appropriate iterative procedure. The hydrostatic coefficients corresponding to the bending modes are also derived. The numerical analysis of the flexible floating breakwaters is based on a three-dimensional hydrodynamic formulation of the floating body. A parametric study is carried out for a wide range of structural stiffness parameters and wave headings, to investigate their effect on the performance of flexible floating breakwaters. Moreover, this performance is compared with that of the corresponding pile-restrained rigid floating breakwater. Results indicated that the degree of structural stiffness and the wave heading strongly affect the performance of flexible floating breakwaters. The existence of an “optimum” value of structural stiffness is demonstrated for the entire wave frequency range.     

Dual floating breakwaters

A numerical model is developed to investigate the behavior of a pair of flexible, floating breakwaters consisting of complaint, beam-like structures anchored to the sea bed. Each structure is kept under tension by a small buoyancy chamber at the tip, additional stiffness in each case is provided by mooring lines attached to the buoyancy chamber. The fluid motion is idealized as linearized, two-dimensional potential flow and the equation of motion of each breakwater is taken to be that of a one-dimensional beam of uniform flexural rigidity and mass per unit length subjected to a constant axial force. The boundary integral equation method is applied to the fluid domain. Modifications are made to the basic formulation to account for the zero thickness of the idealized structures, and the dynamic behavior of the breakwaters is described through an appropriate Green's function. Numerical results are presented which illustrate the effects of the various wave and structural parameters on the efficiency of the two-breakwater systems as a barrier to wave action. It is found that by adjusting the spacing between the breakwaters acceptable wave reflection characteristics may be obtained even with relatively flexible structures.     

Wave Scattering by Double Slotted Barriers in A Steady Current： Experiments

The adoption of slotted breakwaters can be an ideal option in the protection of very large near-shore floating struc-trees that may extend offshore to a considerable water depth. In this paper, we experimently investigated the behaviour of wave transmission and reflection coefficients of double slotted barriers in the presence of a steady opposing current. The experimental results show that opposing currents have only minor effects on wave reflection, but can significantly reduce the wave transmission through double slotted barriers. The experimental results suggest that coastal currents should be taken into consideration for an economical design of slotted breakwaters.     

顺应式海洋平台慢漂运动物理模型试验研究

为研究顺应式海洋平台慢漂运动的影响因素,以截断圆柱和漂浮方箱为例进行了不规则波作用下的慢漂运动模型试验。测量了不同系泊刚度条件下的漂浮方箱以及相同系泊刚度条件下的截断圆柱和漂浮方箱在静水中自由衰减运动和在不规则波中的运动响应,并将运动响应分解成一阶波频运动响应和二阶低频运动响应,分析了系泊刚度和浮体形状对浮体运动的影响。通过物理模型试验发现了系泊刚度及浮体形状对顺应式系泊浮体一阶运动标准差和二阶低频运动平均漂移值和标准差的关系。结果表明由于顺应式浮体的固有周期远离波浪谱峰周期时,系泊刚度以及浮体形状对慢漂运动的一阶运动响应影响不大;二阶低频运动相对偏离平衡位置的平均值和标准差均随系泊刚度增大而减小,浮体形状同样对慢漂运动的二阶低频纵荡运动响应影响较大。试验结果为实际海洋工程的外形选择和系泊刚度选择提供数据支持。     

Floating pontoon breakwaters

The hydrodynamic properties of a pair of long floating pontoon breakwaters of rectangular section are investigated theoretically. The structures are partially restrained by linear symmetric moorings fore and aft. The fluid motion is idealized as linearized, two-dimensional potential flow. The breakwater motions are assumed to be two-dimensional, in surge, heave and pitch. The solution for the fluid motion is obtained by the boundary integral equation method using an appropriate Green's function. Numerical results are presented that illustrate the effects of the various wave and structural parameters on the efficiency of the breakwaters as barriers to wave action. It is found that the wave reflection properties of the structures depend strongly on their width, draft and spacing and the mooring line stiffnesses, while their excess buoyancy is of lesser importance.     

A study of spar buoy floating breakwater

A floating breakwater produces less environmental impact, but is easily destroyed by large waves. In this paper, the spar buoy floating breakwater is introduced with a study on the wave reflection and transmission characteristics and mooring line tension induced by the waves. Mei (The Applied Dynamics of Ocean Surface Waves, Wiley, New York (1983) 740 p) proposed a theoretical solution for the reflection and transmission coefficients as the wave propagates through a one-layer slotted barrier. For a multiple-layer fence system, the analytical solution is proposed linearly. The results show that the theoretical computations agree well with the experimental trends. For a multiple-layer fence system, the transmission coefficients become maximal as the layer spacing to wavelength ratio moves to 1/2. Conversely, the coefficients become minimal, as the ratio moves to 0.3. To estimate the maximum tension of the mooring line, both numerical calculations and laboratory experiments were executed. The numerical calculation results were similar to the experimental results.     

Experimental study on wave transmission coefficient, mooring lines and module connector forces with different designs of floating breakwaters

This paper presents the results and conclusions obtained from the physical model tests carried out with four different designs of floating breakwaters. Changes from a basic design have been introduced in order to evaluate the improvement in the efficiency as a coastal protection structure. Incident and transmitted waves have been measured, as well as the efforts in the mooring lines and module connectors. It has been found that the width of the pontoons is one of the key design parameters, while small modifications in the floating breakwater's cross section shape are less determinant in its hydrodynamic behaviour and in mechanical loads in the discussed ranges. 2D and 3D tests were conducted, observing the great influence that the wave obliquity has in the module connector forces.     

Experimental investigation on the dynamic response of a moored wave energy device under regular sea waves

This paper attempts to provide a better understanding of the hydrodynamic behaviour of a floating multi-resonant oscillating column wave energy device which combines the concept of a floating breakwater and a wave energy device. Experiments were conducted on a 1:20 scale model of the floating wave energy device moored by six mooring lines to study the dynamics of the device under regular waves for various scopes. The effect of non-dimensionalized wave frequency parameter on the motion response and mooring force are reported and discussed in detail in this paper.     

Experimental Study of Wave Attenuation in Trapezoidal Floating Breakwaters

A comprehensive experimental study was carried out on the regular wave attenuation with a trapezoidal pontoontype floating breakwater(FB) in deep water. The functionalities of two simple FB geometries consist of a rectangle and a trapezoid with the slope of 60° were investigated under the wave attack. A two-dimensional wave flume was used in the experiment; the incident, transmitted waves, mooring line forces and motion responses of the floating breakwaters were measured. Also the influence of the sea state conditions(incident wave height and wave period)and structural parameters(draught of the structure) were investigated using the trapezoidal FB. Our experimental results indicated that the trapezoidal FB significantly reduced the wave transmission and mooring line force when compared with rectangular FBs. A new formula was developed in order to predict the value of the transmission coefficient in trapezoidal FBs with the slope of 60°. Experimental data showed to be consistent with the results of the formula.     

Effect of mooring-line stiffness on the performance of a dual coaxial-cylinder Wave-Energy Converter

A point-absorber-type Wave-Energy Converter (WEC) consisting of a floating vertical inner cylinder and an annular outer cylinder that slides along the inner one is considered. The two cylinders heave differently under wave excitation, and wave energy can be harnessed from the relative heave motion between the two cylinders using a Permanent Magnet Linear Generator (PMLG) as the Power Take-Off unit. A mooring cable is attached to the bottom of the inner cylinder. This paper aims to examine the effect of the stiffness of the mooring cable on the performance of the coaxial-cylinder WEC system. The two limiting cases of no mooring cable (freely floating inner and outer cylinders) and an infinitely stiff mooring cable (fixed inner cylinder) were also considered. To perform the analysis, hydrodynamic and interference coefficients of the two heaving cylinders were computed semi-analytically using the method of matched eigenfunction expansions. Experimentally determined viscous corrections on damping were also included in the model in order to have more realistic predictions. The performance of the system in terms of motion responses and capture width were predicted and discussed for both regular and irregular waves. The results of the analysis indicate that both the freely floating design and the design with rigidly moored inner cylinder are viable. The two limiting cases show similar optimal performances, albeit with very different optimal generator damping. However, an ill-chosen mooring-cable stiffness may cause the inner and the outer cylinders to have the same resonance frequency, eliminating the relative heave motion and leading to almost no energy extraction. This situation needs to be avoided when designing the mooring system for a coaxial-cylinder WEC.     

Experimental Study on Rectangular Floating Breakwaters

This paper proposes ten types of improved floating breakwaters for experiment with regular waves, based on the experience in the development and manufacture of existing floating breakwaters both at home and abroad, and on the results of experimental studies on the hydraulic characteristics of several types of floating breakwaters. The wave heights before and behind the breakwaters are measured, the movements of floating breakwaters are observed and the chain forces of the floating breakwaters are measured. The paper studies and compares the hydraulic characteristics of the improved rectangular floating breakwaters of which the internal and external structures and their installation methods are changed. Finally the optimal type of structure is selected through experiments.     

Experiments on wave transmission coefficients of floating breakwaters

To find a simple, inexpensive, and effective type of floating breakwater for deep-sea aquaculture, we studied three types of structures: the single box, the double box, and the board net. We conducted two-dimensional physical model tests in a wave-current flume in the laboratory to measure the wave transmission coefficients of the three types of breakwaters under regular waves with or without currents. Based on the initial comparison of the wave transmission coefficients, we proposed the use of the board-net floating breakwater for use with fish cages; we then conducted detailed experiments to examine how wave transmission coefficients are affected by several factors, including the width of the board, the row number of the net, the rigidity of the board, and the current velocity. The experimental results show that the board-net floating breakwater, which is a simple and inexpensive type of structure, can effectively protect fish and fish cages and may be adopted for aquaculture engineering in deep-water regions.     

Simplified analytical solutions for wave interaction with absorbing-type caisson breakwaters

Simplified analytical solutions are presented to model the interaction of linear waves with absorbing-type caisson breakwaters, which possess one, or two, perforated or slotted front faces which result in one, or two, interior fluid regions (chambers). The perforated/slotted surfaces are idealized as thin porous plates. Energy dissipation in the interior fluid region(s) inside the breakwater is modelled through a damping function. Under the assumption of potential flow and linear wave theory a boundary-value problem may then be formulated to describe wave interaction with the idealized structure. A solution to this simplified problem may be obtained by an eigenfunction expansion technique and an explicit analytical expression may be obtained for the reflected wave height. Using the experimental work of previous authors, damping coefficients are determined for both single and double chamber absorbing-type caisson breakwaters. Based on the damping for a single perforated-wall breakwater, a methodology is proposed to enable the estimation of the damping coefficients for a breakwater with two chambers. The theoretical predictions of the reflection coefficients for the two-chamber structures using the present model are compared with those obtained from laboratory experiments by other authors. It is found that the inclusion of the damping in the interior fluid region gives rise to improved agreement between theory and experiment.     

Wave diffraction on arc-shaped floating perforated breakwaters

An analytical method is developed to study the sheltering effects on arc-shaped floating perforated breakwaters. In the process of analysis, the floating breakwater is assumed to be rigid, thin, vertical, and immovable and located in water with constant depth. The fluid domain is divided into two regions by imaginary interface. The velocity potential in each region is expanded by eigenfunction in the context of linear theory. By satisfying continuity of pressure and normal velocity across the imaginary fluid interface, a set of linear algebraic equations can be obtained to determine the unknown coefficients for eigenfunction expansions. The accuracy of the present model was verified by a comparison with existing results for the case of arc-shaped floating breakwater. Numerical results, in the form of contour maps of the non-dimensional wave amplitude around the breakwater and diffracted wave amplitude at typical sections, are presented for a range of wave and breakwater parameters. Results show that the sheltering effects on the arc-shaped floating perforated breakwater are closely related to the incident wavelength, the draft and the porosity of the breakwater.     

Direct time domain analysis of floating structures with linear and nonlinear mooring stiffness in a 3D numerical wave tank

In this paper, motion response of a moored floating structure interacting with a large amplitude and steep incident wave field is studied using a coupled time domain solution scheme. Solution of the hydrodynamic boundary value problem is achieved using a three-dimensional numerical wave tank (3D NWT) approach based upon a form of Mixed-Eulerian–Lagrangian (MEL) scheme. In the developed method, nonlinearity arising due to incident wave as well as nonlinear hydrostatics is completely captured while the hydrodynamic interactions of radiation and diffraction are determined at every time step based on certain simplifying approximations. Mooring lines are modelled as linear as well as nonlinear springs. The horizontal tension for each individual mooring line is obtained from the nonlinear load-excursion plot of the lines computed using catenary theory, from which the linear and nonlinear line stiffness are determined. Motions of three realistic floating structures with different mooring systems are analyzed considering various combinations of linear and approximate nonlinear hydrodynamic load computations and linear/nonlinear mooring line stiffness. Results are discussed to bring out the influence and need for consideration of nonlinearities in the hydrodynamics and hydrostatics as well as the nonlinear modelling of the line stiffness.     

Experimental studies on a perforated horizontal floating plate breakwater

In recent years floating breakwaters are considered for creating calm basin under open sea conditions for short period of time. In this paper, experimental studies on the performance characteristics of a horizontal floating plate breakwater are presented. The results of this two-dimensional model study are for regular waves of shallow and intermediate water depths. Analysis of the results shows that the transmission coefficient is strongly influenced by wave steepness and relative length of breakwater. It is also found to be dependent, to a lesser extent, on the relative depth of draft. Mooring forces are found to increase with increasing wave steepness and relative depth of draft. The performance of this breakwater is compared with other types of breakwater reported by earlier workers.     

混合模块大型浮式结构系统耦合动力响应分析

针对具有天然岛礁庇护或人工庇护的温和海洋环境,提出了一种混合模块大型浮式结构系统,即水动力性能更优的半潜式模块作为内侧主模块,消波效果更优的箱式模块作为外侧浮式防波模块和波浪能发电模块.波浪能装置利用外侧箱式模块与内侧半潜式模块的相对纵摇运动进行发电.考虑模块间多体水动力耦合效应和连接器机械耦合效应,基于ANSYS-AQWA程序重点研究了典型海况下混合5模块串联浮式结构系统的动力响应特征.结果表明,外侧箱式模块和波浪能发电装置能有效减弱内侧半潜式主模块运动响应、连接器动力响应和系泊缆绳张力,并且提供一定的能源供给.所得研究成果可为模块化超大型浮式结构系统的防波—发电集成系统设计提供参考.     

Sensitivity Analysis of Air Gap Motion with Respect to Wind Load and Mooring System for Semi-Submersible Platform Design

A design of semi-submersible platform is mainly based on the extreme response analysis due to the forces experienced by the components during lifetime. The external loads can induce the extreme air gap response and potential deck impact to the semi-submersible platform. It is important to predict air gap response of platforms accurately in order to check the strength of local structures which withstand the wave slamming due to negative air gap. The wind load cannot be simulated easily by model test in towing tank whereas it can be simulated accurately in wind tunnel test. Furthermore, full scale simulation of the mooring system in model test is still a tuff work especially the stiffness of the mooring system. Owing to the above mentioned problem, the model test results are not accurate enough for air gap evaluation. The aim of this paper is to present sensitivity analysis results of air gap motion with respect to the mooring system and wind load for the design of semi-submersible platform. Though the model test results are not suitable for the direct evaluation of air gap, they can be used as a good basis for tuning the radiation damping and viscous drag in numerical simulation. In the presented design example, a numerical model is tuned and validated by ANSYS AQWA based on the model test results with a simple 4 line symmetrical horizontal soft mooring system. According to the tuned numerical model, sensitivity analysis studies of air gap motion with respect to the mooring system and wind load are performed in time domain. Three mooring systems and five simulation cases about the presented platform are simulated based on the results of wind tunnel tests and sea-keeping tests. The sensitivity analysis results are valuable for the floating platform design.