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Computation
Volume 14
Issue 1
10.3390/computation14010004
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Aquaculture Nets: The Critical Role of Solidity Ratio in Biofouling Assessment

by
Wei Liu
1,
Lei Wang
1,*,
Yongli Liu
1,*,
Yuyan Li
1,
Guangrui Qi
1 and
Dawen Mao
2
1
East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 300 Jungong Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200090, China
2
College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Computation 2026, 14(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/computation14010004 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 24 November 2025 / Revised: 22 December 2025 / Accepted: 26 December 2025 / Published: 30 December 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Biofouling on aquaculture netting increases hydrodynamic drag and restricts water exchange across net cages. The solidity ratio is introduced as a quantitative parameter to characterize fouling severity. Towing tank experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to assess the hydrodynamic behavior of netting under different fouling conditions. Experimental results indicated a nonlinear increase in drag force with increasing solidity. At a flow velocity of 0.90 m/s, the drag force increased by 112.2%, 195.1%, and 295.7% for netting with solidity ratios of 0.445, 0.733, and 0.787, respectively, compared to clean netting (Sn = 0.211). The drag coefficient remained stable within 1.445–1.573 across Re of 995–2189. Numerical simulations demonstrated the evolution of flow fields around netting, including jet flow formation in mesh openings and reverse flow regions and vortex structures behind knots. Under high solidity (Sn =0.733–0.787), complex wake patterns such as dual-peak vortex streets appeared. Therefore, this study confirmed that the solidity ratio is an effective comprehensive parameter for evaluating biofouling effects, providing a theoretical basis for antifouling design and cleaning strategy development for aquaculture cages.
Keywords: netting panel; biofouling; drag coefficient; CFD; flow field netting panel; biofouling; drag coefficient; CFD; flow field

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, W.; Wang, L.; Liu, Y.; Li, Y.; Qi, G.; Mao, D. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Aquaculture Nets: The Critical Role of Solidity Ratio in Biofouling Assessment. Computation 2026, 14, 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation14010004

AMA Style

Liu W, Wang L, Liu Y, Li Y, Qi G, Mao D. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Aquaculture Nets: The Critical Role of Solidity Ratio in Biofouling Assessment. Computation. 2026; 14(1):4. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation14010004

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Wei, Lei Wang, Yongli Liu, Yuyan Li, Guangrui Qi, and Dawen Mao. 2026. "Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Aquaculture Nets: The Critical Role of Solidity Ratio in Biofouling Assessment" Computation 14, no. 1: 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation14010004

APA Style

Liu, W., Wang, L., Liu, Y., Li, Y., Qi, G., & Mao, D. (2026). Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Aquaculture Nets: The Critical Role of Solidity Ratio in Biofouling Assessment. Computation, 14(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation14010004

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