Response Of Very Large Floating Structure Research Articles

Experimental study on responses of an 8-module VLFS considering different encounter wave conditions

For the very large floating structure (VLFS) which is deployed near seashores, islands and reefs, the encounter wave conditions are always extremely complex. Traditional methods using homogeneous wave environment conditions cannot be applied for the analysis. In order to provide references for the further development of numerical methods, this paper reports an experimental study on responses of an 8-module VLFS under three different encounter wave conditions. The wave heights, accelerations, motions and connector loads of VLFS in three test schemes are obtained and analyzed. The comparative results show that the inhomogeneous wave conditions have an essential influence on the responses of VLFS. Especially for the connector loads, the values in the inhomogeneous wave conditions increase a lot compared with the other two test schemes. It indicates the traditional numerical methods using homogeneous wave field may not guarantee a safe design of VLFS and its connectors in the complicated wave environments.

Oscillating Wave Surge Converter-Type Attachment for Extracting Wave Energy While Reducing Hydroelastic Responses of Very Large Floating Structures

Abstract This paper presents an oscillating wave surge converter (OWSC)-type attachment, comprising a submerged vertical flap connected to the fore edge of a very large floating structure (VLFS) with hinges and linear power take-off (PTO) systems, for extracting wave energy while reducing hydroelastic responses of VLFS. In terms of reductions in hydroelastic responses of VLFS, the OWSC-type attachment is better than the recently proposed raft wave energy converter (WEC)-type attachment for relatively short waves (T < 7 s) and better than the conventional anti-motion device comprising a submerged vertical flap rigidly connected to the fore edge of VLFS for all wave periods. Importantly, the horizontal wave force acting on the submerged flap for the OWSC-type attachment is smaller than that for the conventional anti-motion device, leading to a more economical mooring system. In terms of wave energy extraction, the OWSC-type attachment is better than the raft WEC-type attachment for intermediate and long waves (T ≥ 7 s). In addition, for maximizing power production, the required flap length for the OWSC-type attachment is much smaller than the required pontoon length for the raft WEC-type attachment (about λ/10 as compared to about λ/3, where λ is the incident wavelength).

Two-mode WEC-type attachment for wave energy extraction and reduction of hydroelastic response of pontoon-type VLFS

Proposed herein is a two-mode wave energy converter-type attachment to the fore edge of pontoon-type very large floating structures (VLFSs) for wave energy extraction and reduction of hydroelastic response. This attachment consists of floating horizontal and submerged vertical plates that are connected to the VLFS with hinges and linear power take-off systems. The use of both floating horizontal and submerged vertical plates combines the superior performances of floating plates in extracting wave energy from short waves (T < 5 s) and of submerged vertical plates in extracting wave energy from intermediate and long waves (T > 7 s). When deployed in sites where 5 s ≤ T ≤ 7 s, the two-mode attachment yields a larger power production than the sole usage of floating plates or the sole usage of submerged vertical plates. Interestingly, the two-mode attachment also combines the superior performance of submerged vertical plates in reducing hydroelastic response for relatively short waves (T < 7 s) and the superior performance of floating plates in reducing hydroelastic response for relatively long waves (T ≥ 9 s). Moreover, this two-mode attachment furnishes a good balance between extracting wave energy and reducing hydroelastic response of VLFS for the same wave period.

Evaluation of bending moments and shear forces at unit connections of very large floating structures using hydroelastic and rigid body analyses

This paper investigates the characteristics of bending moments, shear forces and stresses at unit connections of very large floating structures (VLFS) under wave loads. The responses of VLFS are calculated by solving multi-body motion equation considering hydroelasticity and connection stiffness. Hydroelastic responses are calculated by the direct method. Higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM) is used for fluid analysis and finite element method (FEM) is introduced for structural analysis. The equation of motion is modified to describe the unit connections by employing spring elements. Bending moments and shear forces at the connections are obtained from the dynamic equilibrium condition for pressures and inertia forces. Two types of VLFS units such as tandem arranged units and side-by-side arranged units are considered in the numerical examples. The influences of connection stiffness, wave frequency and heading angle on responses of VLFS are investigated through the numerical examples. Rigid body analysis along with hydroelastic analysis is also carried out in the numerical analysis and comparison of those two approaches is discussed.

Study on Characteristic of Hydroelastic Responses for Ver Large Floating Structure in the vicinity of a Breakwater

The objectives of present. paper are to develop the estimation method for the hydrodynamic forces on very large floating structures in the vicinity of a breakwater and to clarify the characteristics of elastic response on the very large floating structures (VLFS).In the present paper. the source distribution method was applied to prediction of by hydrodynamic forces on VLFS and the elastic responses of VLFS were computed by model analysis. From the results of numerical calculation, the effects of breakwater on the elastic response of VLFS and the characteristics of elastic responses on the phase two model of VLFS were made clear.