Experimental Study on Motion Characterisation of CALM Buoy Hose System under Water Waves

Abstract

The application of marine bonded hoses has increased in recent times, due to the need for more flexible conduits and flexible applications in the offshore industry. These marine structures include Catenary Anchor Leg Moorings (CALM) buoys and ocean monitoring buoys. Their attachments include floating hoses, submarine hoses and submarine cables. However, the structural performance challenges of a CALM buoy system from its hydrodynamics water waves and other global loadings, have led to the need for this investigation. In this study, a detailed presentation on the motion characterisation of the CALM buoy hose system is presented. The CALM buoy is a structure with six degrees of freedom (6DoF). A well-detailed experimental presentation on the CALM buoy hose model conducted in Lancaster University Wave Tank is presented using three novel techniques, which are: a digital image captured using Imetrum systems, using an Akaso 4K underwater camera, using wave gauges arranged in a unique pattern and using underwater Bluetooth sensors. The buoy model was also found to respond uniquely for each motion investigated under water waves. The results showed that the higher the profile, the higher the response of the buoy. Thus, this study confirms the existence of flow patterns of the CALM buoy while floating on the water body.