Deployable Air Beam Fender System (DAFS): Energy Absorption Performance Analysis

摘要

Performance curves detailing the energy absorption parameters of selectively sized deployable air beam fender systems (DAFSs) were established to enable future efficiencies in fender design. Numerical solutions were generated using the ABAQUS/Explicit Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Program for two mooring configurations: ship-to-ship and ship-to-causeway (non-ballasted). The governing energy balance was presented and the contributions of strain energy and air compressibility were assessed for various inflation pressures and DAFS sizes. The applicability and limitations of analytical methods based on assumptions of material inextensibility were also discussed. Comparisons were made between the numerical and analytical methods to demonstrate the importance of admitting strain energies of the fender material in the energy balance. Equations and conditions for proper scaling of pressure and volume terms in energy absorption calculations were developed and discussed.