Dynamic Analysis of an Array of Connected Floating Breakwaters

In this paper, a model for dynamic analysis of array of floating breakwaters is developed and tested. Special attention is given to modeling connections between neighboring elements of the array. A linear three-dimensional floating multi-body formulation is used as a foundation for the presented model. An additional stiffness matrix is derived which introduces the influence of the connections onto motion of the array. The stiffness matrix is used to couple motions in vertical and horizontal planes i.e., the connections are modeled in three-dimensions. The equation of motion is solved in the frequency domain. The newly developed model is tested on an array of three connected breakwaters. The motion and the performance of the breakwater array are investigated under different significant heights and directions of the incoming waves.