A study on towing characteristics of a transportation barge in waves

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study on towing characteristics of a transportation barge in waves. A series of model tests were carried out at the Ocean Engineering Basin of MOERI/KIOST for measurements of hull forces and motion of a towed transportation barge model in calm water and in waves. Two numerical simulations based on MMG model and cross-flow model were conducted with hydrodynamic derivatives extracted from the model tests. Measured towing trajectories and towline tensions were compared with numerical simulations. Good agreements were obtained between model tests and the numerical results by two different simulation models. Discussions were made on the scale effect on towing characteristics of a barge and wave effect. Copyright ？ 2013 by the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE).