Physical Model Study of Wave Forces on a Moored Barge

摘要

Very high mooring forces occur when a wave breaks on a barge moored with chain. These high forces are produced by a combination of lifting the barge, along eith high water velocities and accelerations at the breaking wave crest. The interaction of the barge with this type of non-linear waves is best studied with a physical model. This report describes a brief set of 1 to 100 scale Froude model studies conducted to model a barge moored in from 50 to 100 feet of water. The wave period tested was 12 seconds and wave heights ranged from one-half the breaker height to the breaker height. Measured forces were as high as 1 million pounds for a wave breaking on the barge moored in 50 feet of water. The magnitude of this force decreased as the barge was moored in deeper water and decreased rapidly at a given water depth when the wave height was reduced. Keywords: Mooring systems; Barges; Wave forces.