Numerical Analysis and Modeling of Floating Structures

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 June 2025 | Viewed by 5976

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
Interests: coastal and floating structures; thin-shell structures; structural art

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: rogue (freak) waves; storm surge; coastal hazards and safety of coastal cities; tsunamis; ocean renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
Interests: fluid-structure interaction; ocean renewable energy; ocean infrastructures; hydro-elasticity analysis on deformable floating structures; ocean monitoring system using sensors; digital twin and machine learning applications to ocean engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Floating infrastructure, such as buildings, piers/docks, bridges, breakwaters, aquaculture facilities, offshore platforms, and energy harvesters (e.g., floating wind, wave, or solar) offer tremendous potential to increase the resiliency of future cities for climate change adaptation. Given the complexity of many floating systems, numerical modeling presents a powerful tool for exploring the fundamental processes that govern their interactions with the physical or human environment. This Special Issue seeks contributions from researchers across academia and industry to share state-of-the-art advances in the use of numerical tools for the analysis of floating structures (and their components) existing at the water–air interface spanning all scales and applications. Contributions investigating the response of floating systems under extreme hydrodynamic events (e.g., breaking or extreme waves) are particularly welcome.

Dr. Shengzhe (Jackson) Wang
Dr. Jinghua Wang
Dr. Chung-Kuk Jin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • offshore platform
  • floating infrastructure
  • marine transportation
  • mooring dynamics
  • computational fluid dynamics
  • fluid–structure interaction
  • numerical methods
  • multi-physics modeling
  • extreme waves
  • climate adaptation
  • structure resilience

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

22 pages, 12475 KiB  
Article
Hyperbolic Paraboloid Free-Surface Breakwaters: Hydrodynamic Study and Structural Evaluation
by Hamid ElDarwich, Gaoyuan Wu, Krisna A Pawitan and Maria Garlock
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020245 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 864
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of hyperbolic paraboloid (hypar) shapes for enhancing wave attenuation and structural efficiency in Free-Surface Breakwaters (FSBW). A decoupled approach combining Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Finite Element Method (FEM) is employed to analyze hypar-faced FSBW performance across varying [...] Read more.
This study investigates the potential of hyperbolic paraboloid (hypar) shapes for enhancing wave attenuation and structural efficiency in Free-Surface Breakwaters (FSBW). A decoupled approach combining Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Finite Element Method (FEM) is employed to analyze hypar-faced FSBW performance across varying hypar warping values and wave characteristics. SPH simulations, validated through experiments, determine wave attenuation performance and extract pressure values for subsequent FEM analysis. Results indicate that hypar-faced FSBW produces increased wave attenuation compared to traditional flat-faced designs, particularly for shorter wave periods and smaller drafts. Furthermore, hypar surfaces exhibit up to three times lower principal stresses under wave loading compared to the flat counterpart, potentially allowing for thinner surfaces. The study also shows that peak-load static stress values provide a reasonable approximation for preliminary design, with less than 6% average difference compared to dynamic analysis results. In summary, this research presents hypar-faced FSBW as a promising alternative in coastal defense strategies, offering effective wave attenuation and structural efficiency in the context of rising sea levels and increasing storm intensities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Analysis and Modeling of Floating Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 9989 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis and Modeling of a Semi-Submersible Floating Wind Turbine Platform with Large Amplitude Motions Subjected to Extreme Wind and Wave Loads
by Weishan Lyu and Jeffrey Falzarano
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020243 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 787
Abstract
The objective of this study is to predict the large amplitude motions of floating wind turbine platforms and to emphasize the significance of nonlinear forces when these platforms are subjected to combined wind and wave loads. The analysis utilizes the 5 MW OC4 [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to predict the large amplitude motions of floating wind turbine platforms and to emphasize the significance of nonlinear forces when these platforms are subjected to combined wind and wave loads. The analysis utilizes the 5 MW OC4 semi-submersible model. First, we couple the OpenFAST v3.1.0 with SIMDYN, validate the effectiveness of the coupled program, and highlight the considerable impact of nonlinearity on the results, particularly in relation to the heave and pitch motions of offshore wind platforms under extreme environmental conditions. We then discuss the primary reasons for this phenomenon. Ultimately, this study proposes an optimized model aimed at mitigating the nonlinear effects associated with such conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Analysis and Modeling of Floating Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5008 KiB  
Article
The Time-Domain Design Stress Method for Fatigue Analysis of the Reactor Pressure Vessel in Floating Nuclear Power Plants
by Jialong Yuan, Fuxuan Ma, Meng Zhang, Kai Shen and Jinfeng Tang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020235 - 26 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 693
Abstract
Nuclear power technology has rapidly advanced with the growing global demand for clean energy. As one of the core components of nuclear power plants (NPPs), the design and lifespan evaluation of reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) are critically important. However, while fatigue analysis methods [...] Read more.
Nuclear power technology has rapidly advanced with the growing global demand for clean energy. As one of the core components of nuclear power plants (NPPs), the design and lifespan evaluation of reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) are critically important. However, while fatigue analysis methods for RPVs in land-based NPPs are relatively well established, the application of these methods to floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) faces great challenges. Existing analysis methods are difficult to directly apply, and no widely accepted fatigue analysis approach currently exists for this context due to the complex working conditions in marine environments. A time-domain design stress (TDDS) method is developed in this study for the fatigue analysis of RPVs in FNPPs. This method systematically analyzes the impacts of wave loads, internal pressure, and thermal effects on the fatigue life of RPVs by simplifying the wave environment into a time-domain model of roll and pitch motions and adopting the regular wave superposition techniques. This method further adjusts the initial phases of regular waves considering the uncertainty of various load combinations, and superimposes the stress components caused by regular waves with different initial phases, thermal loads, and pressure loads. Subsequently, stress history curves are analyzed using the rainflow counting method, and combined with the damage accumulation theory, the upper and lower limits of fatigue damage are obtained. The results demonstrate that compared to traditional methods in time-domain analysis, the proposed TDDS method provides greater accuracy in evaluating the fatigue life of RPVs in FNPPs, with the average error in fatigue damage values being only 0.033%. Furthermore, the TDDS method reduces analysis time by approximately 70%, which significantly improves computational performance. These findings underscore the reliability and effectiveness of this method in practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Analysis and Modeling of Floating Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5490 KiB  
Article
On the Static Stability and Seakeeping Performance of a Submerged Floating Tunnel Module in Wet Tow
by Ikjae Lee, Chungkuk Jin, Sung-Jae Kim and Moohyun Kim
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(1), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13010077 - 4 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 783
Abstract
A case study is conducted for a submerged floating tunnel module (SFTM) in wet tow conditions. Inspired by the successful wet tow operations of spar platforms, a wet tow scenario is examined where a tunnel module, floating horizontally with a half-diameter draft, is [...] Read more.
A case study is conducted for a submerged floating tunnel module (SFTM) in wet tow conditions. Inspired by the successful wet tow operations of spar platforms, a wet tow scenario is examined where a tunnel module, floating horizontally with a half-diameter draft, is towed by tugboats using towlines. To evaluate the static stability of the SFTM during wet tow, numerical static offset tests are performed at varying tow speeds to determine the equivalent system stiffness. These static offset tests consider surge, sway, roll, and yaw motions. Statistical analyses are subsequently performed based on the encounter-frequency approximation with varying equivalent stiffnesses. The most probable extreme motion analysis for 3 h under sea state 4 (HS=2.44 m and TP=8.1 s) shows that the beam sea condition causes the largest heave (0.6 m), and the stern sea (30 deg.) leads to the largest yaw response (0.85 deg.), which is likely to cause an instantaneous decrease in towing stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Analysis and Modeling of Floating Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 15475 KiB  
Article
Hydrodynamic Performance and Mooring Safety Assessment of an Offshore Floating Movable Fish Cage
by Sung-Jae Kim, Seong-Jae Jeong and Sung-Ju Park
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(12), 2351; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12122351 - 21 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1192
Abstract
This study evaluates the hydrodynamic performance of a movable fish cage equipped with a spread mooring system in offshore condition. It investigates the global behavior and safety of a mooring system under environmental influences such as waves, currents, and biofouling. A numerical model [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the hydrodynamic performance of a movable fish cage equipped with a spread mooring system in offshore condition. It investigates the global behavior and safety of a mooring system under environmental influences such as waves, currents, and biofouling. A numerical model was developed using the Cummins equation and a lumped-mass line model to capture the coupling effects between the floating structure and mooring lines. The steel frame was modeled using Morison members, whereas fishing nets were represented by a screen model incorporating drag forces. Parametric studies were performed to assess the effects of varying mooring line lengths, current speeds, and biofouling on cage behavior. Evidently, heavier chains reduced excursions but increased tension, whereas high current speeds increased the line tension (owing to increased drift) and mooring line stiffness by up to 66%. Biofouling increased the maximum excursion by 6% and line tension by up to 17%. Safety evaluations based on the American Bureau of Shipping rules examined intact and damaged conditions, comparing estimated line tensions with allowable values. The findings confirm that the mooring system ensures reliable station-keeping performance even under challenging conditions, validating its suitability for offshore deployment and ensuring the safety and stability of floating fish cage systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Analysis and Modeling of Floating Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 14529 KiB  
Article
Morphology and Effect of Load on Bridge Piers Impacted by Continuous Sea Ice
by Li Gong, Yue Cui, Yunfei Du, Long Qin and Xinyuan Zhao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(10), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12101871 - 18 Oct 2024
Viewed by 827
Abstract
In order to study the collision of sea ice on bridge piers of a sea-crossing bridge, this study establishes a finite element model of the impact of sea ice on bridge piers in aqueous media based on explicit dynamics analysis software and programming [...] Read more.
In order to study the collision of sea ice on bridge piers of a sea-crossing bridge, this study establishes a finite element model of the impact of sea ice on bridge piers in aqueous media based on explicit dynamics analysis software and programming software using the arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) method. The results show that, when the sea-ice spacing is larger than the sea-ice edge length, the increase in sea-ice spacing leads to a decrease in the collision force and a significant increase in the probability of climbing and overturning. The increase in sea-ice mass significantly increases the impact force on the bridge abutment, and the peak value increases linearly with the increase in mass, and the sea-ice climbing and overturning phenomena are obvious. Different shapes of sea ice are obtained by cutting the sea-ice field with the two-dimensional Voronoi method, and the maximum impact force increases significantly with the increase in the average area. Irregularly shaped sea ice leads to a larger impact force and triggers the accumulation climbing phenomenon, which is verified by experiments, and the experimental values are in good agreement with the simulated values. In conclusion, this study reveals the significant effects of the spacing, mass, and shape of sea ice on the impact force of bridge piers, which provides an important reference for the design of bridge structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Analysis and Modeling of Floating Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop