FLUID-STRUCTURE-SOIL INTERACTION OF A MOORED WAVE ENERGY DEVICE: Fluid-structure-soil interaction of a moored wave energy device

• Main Authors: Tom, Joe G., Rijnsdorp, Dirk, Ragni, Raffaele, White, David
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2019
• Subjects: Swash; Arctic
• Online Access: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/432766/; https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/432766/1/OMAE2019_95419.pdf

This paper explores the response of a wave energy device during extreme and operational conditions and the effect of this response on the geotechnical stability of the associated taut moorings. The non-hydro static wave-flow model SWASH is used to simulate the response of a taut-moored wave energy converter. The predicted forces acting on the mooring system are used to compute the build-up of excess pore pressures in the soil around the mooring anchor and the resulting changes in strength and capacity. An initial loss of strength is followed by a subsequent increase in capacity, associated with long-term cyclic loading and hardening due to consolidation. The analyses show how cyclic loading may actually benefit and reduce anchoring requirements for wave energy devices. It demonstrates the viability of a close interdisciplinary approach towards an optimized and cost-effective design of mooring systems, which form a significant proportion of expected capital expenditures.