Modelling of Wave-Structure Interaction |

Case Study

Modelling of Wave-Structure Interaction

Overview

Baird developed innovative physical and numerical modelling of wave-structure interaction for a proposed offshore export terminal to refine design criteria and to support the assessment of structure reliability during the design phase.

Project Highlights

Baird is the Owner’s Engineer, managing extensive marine studies to support a feasibility assessment and preliminary design development for a multi-billion dollar marine export facility in Western Australia. The project was designed to accommodate eight Capesize bulk carriers, and features a 4 km-long jetty, 1.8 km-long wharf, and 35 km-long dredged channel. Extreme cyclone wave loading on the deck of the pile-supported wharf was identified as a key design issue early in the study.

Baird managed key aspects of the design development process for the marine works, including navigation simulations, ship mooring design, channel and basin dredging layouts and depths, numerical and physical modelling of wave-structure interactions and moored ship response, port capacity modelling, evaluation of capital and maintenance dredging, assessment of towage requirements, and design of a new tug harbour.

The modelling of wave-structure interactions focused on wave uplift loads on the most exposed outer section of the wharf. This included the complementary application of a high-resolution CFD model (FLOW-3D) and a heavily instrumented 1:35 scale physical model. The model results provided quantitative information on wave loads used by the structural design team.

Project Challenges:

Limited historic validation for coastal structures in extreme cyclone seas
Large size of the structure to be designed
Coordination of study programme with Owner and ECPM engineer

Project Solutions:

Baird undertook large-scale physical modelling to verify CFD model
Physical modelling was undertaken at 1:35 scale at world-leading hydraulics laboratory (NRC)
Baird’s Principal and Senior Consultant staff coordinated the entire project with client and ECPM representatives

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