A Numerical Simulation of Hydrodynamic Interactions Between Two Moored Barges with Regular Waves

Abstract

In this study, two rectangular barges in close proximity were simulated to analyze the characteristics of motion responses due to hydrodynamic interactions. Using a numerical solution from DNV-GL SESAM, coupled stiffness matrix terms for these same FEM models were added to the multiple body modes in the surge direction. Potential theory was used to calculate the first order radiation and diffraction effects on the simulated barge models. In the results, the sheltering effect of the barges was not shown at 1.3 rad/s with hull separation of 20 m in transverse waves. The separation effect between the barges was more clear with longitudinal waves and a shallow water depth. However, sway forces were influenced by hull separation with transverse waves. The peaks for sway and heave motion and sway force occurred at higher frequencies as hull separation narrowed with longitudinal and transverse waves. Given a depth of 10 m, the sway motion on the lee side of a coupled barge made a significant difference in the range of 0.2-0.8 rad/s with transverse and oblique waves. Also, the peaks for sway force were situated at lower frequencies, even when incident waves changed.