Gap Resonance of Fixed Floating Multi Caissons

Abstract

Abstract Generally, numerous marine and offshore structures are composed of a number of modules which introduce narrow gaps between the multi-modules arranged side by side. The interaction between water waves and floating structures excites complex wave runup in the gaps and wave forces on the adjacent modules. In this study, free surface oscillations in twin narrow gaps between identical floating rectangular boxes are investigated by establishing a 2D viscous flow numerical wave tank based on a Constrained Interpolation Profile (CIP) method. The Tangent of Hyperbola for INterface Capturing (THINC) method is employed to capture the free surface. The rigid floating bodies are treated by a Virtual Particle Method (VPM). The incident waves are generated by an internal wave maker. For the fixed module cases, the computational results of wave height in narrow gaps are found in good coincidence with the available experimental measurements, especially for the resonant frequencies. The wave forces on the floating bodies are calculated numerically. The characteristic response of wave forces on the leading and rear bodies are consistent with the free surface elevations in the corresponding narrow gaps. With shallow draft, the gap resonance occurs at higher wave number.