Dynamic characteristics between waves and a floating cylindrical body connected to a tension-leg mooring cable placed in a simulated offshore environment

Abstract

Given the rapid progress made in understanding the dynamics of an offshore floating body in an ocean environment, the present study aimed to simulate ocean waves in a small-sized wave flume and to observe the motion of a cylindrical floating body placed in an offshore environment. To generate regular ocean waves in a wave flume, we combined a wave generator and a wave absorber. In addition, to precisely visualise the oscillation of the body, a set of light-emitting diode illuminators and a high-speed charge-coupled device camera were installed in the flume. This study also focuses on the spectral analysis of the movement of the floating body. The wave generator and absorbers worked well to simulate stable regular waves. In addition, the simulated waves agreed well with the plane waves predicted by shallow-water theory. As the period of the oncoming waves changed, the movement of the floating body was substantially different when tethered to a tension-leg mooring cable. In particular, when connected to the tension-leg mooring cable, the natural frequency of the floating body appeared suddenly at 0.391 Hz as the wave period increased.

Keywords

• Regular wave
• Floating body
• Flow visualization
• Visual imaging
• Ocean waves