A Comparison Study on the Hydroelasticity of Two Types of Floating Bridges in Inhomogeneous Wave Conditions

Abstract

Due to the interaction between elastic structural deformations and fluid motions, the responses of floating bridges should be analyzed by hydroelasticity methods. We firstly employed a linear time-domain approach, based on the discrete-module-based hydroelastic method to investigate the responses of two surface bridge concepts under first order wave forces, a straight bridge with mooring system and an end-anchored curved bridge. The results show that the displacement of the curved bridge is smaller, compared with the straight bridge. However, the reaction force and the vertical bending moment of the curved bridge are larger. Furthermore, a nonlinear time-domain hydroelasticity approach for analysis of the floating bridge under nonlinear wave forces within inhomogeneous wave conditions is established. Finally, a comparison between the linear and nonlinear responses of the moored straight bridge is made. The results show that the nonlinearity of the wave excitation forces has a significant influence on the mooring forces and horizontal displacement.