Experimental Study On Wave Loads And Responses of a Barge-Mounted Plant With Dolphin-Fender Mooring System

Model experiment was carried out for a barge mounted plant to assess its safety in harsh environment. The barge mounted plant model was composed of floating structure, dolphin-fender system and mooring cables. The rubber-made fender model was devised to achieve nonlinear characteristics such as hysteresis and buckling behavior of the prototype. The accelerations of platform, reaction forces of fenders, and tensions of mooring cables were measured in regular and irregular waves for various wave directions. The interaction between the floating structure and quay was also investigated using perforated and solid plate quay models. Impulsive response was observed which were caused by the gap between the fender and the dolphin. The responses were analyzed statistically to estimate extreme loads and motion responses. The quay effects somewhat increased the responses. Introduction A research project for utilizing the ocean space and resources in Korea has been started in 1995 (Chung & Chung, 1996). The object of this project is to design and construct a large floating structure, on which plants such as trash burner, electric power plant or desalination plant, etc. are mounted. In the first stage of project, a floating structure was designed as a pilot plant to demonstrate its feasibility and operability (see Fig. I). Assessment of dynamic loads and responses in waves is essential for the design of reliable floating structure and mooting system. A numerical study on the hydrodynamics of the floating structure was already performed, which predicts linear and non-linear wave force and response (Hong et al. 1999). An experimental work on the total system, composed of the floating body and the mooring system, is carried out to validate its safety in harsh environment. This paper contains the results of those model tests in waves.