Realistic Design of a Floating Breakwater Design with Moonpools

Abstract

In an attempt to obtain a 2D floating breakwater model with high performance in wave reflection, genetic algorithm (GA) was combined with boundary element method (BEM) in the previous study. The performance of the obtained model was verified with numerical relations as well as an experiment in towing tank. Moreover, its performance and characteristics in 3D case were also evaluated in the subsequent study. However, because the 3D model is formed by simply extruding the 2D shape in longitudinal direction, it only produces a model with uniform transversal shape which is considered to be less effective and efficient in terms of technical and economical points of view. Consequently, it is needed to modify the model to obtain a more realistic and efficient design without reducing significantly the high performance obtained previously. In the present study, several modifications of the original 3D model are performed which include placing moonpools inside the body. The performance and characteristics of the modified models in terms of wave elevations on the free surface are evaluated at various wavelengths by using higher order boundary element method (HOBEM). The accuracy of the computed results is confirmed with Haskind-Newman and energy conservation relations. From the modifications and evaluations of the models, it could be realized that the moonpools inside the body could be used to obtain a more realistic model without reducing the optimum performance of the original model shape.