Abstract
In this study, a wave flume experiment is implemented in order to investigate the effect of connector topology on the dynamic characteristics of a modular floating structure. Three configurations of flexible connectors were designed for the experiment tests of a three-modular floating platform under various wave conditions. The results illustrate the module responses, relative displacements of connecting points between adjacent modules, and connector loads for floating structures with different types of connectors in the parameters region of non-dimensional module length. The comparison study demonstrates that the connector type III, which can provide appropriate constraint stiffness in all three degrees of freedom, generally delivers better dynamic stability to the floating platform. The longitudinal loads for the three types of connectors remain at the same level. Additionally, the mechanism of different types of connectors on the dynamic features of system is analyzed. This work can provide a few experimental guidelines for the connector design of floating structure in engineering practice.
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