Analysis of wave resonance in gap between two heaving barges

A numerical wave tank based on the fully-nonlinear potential-flow theory is built to simulate water wave radiations by floating barges. An approach from the free sloshing model is proposed to predict dominant resonance frequencies of the liquid motion in the gap between two barges. The effectivity of this approach is verified through the 'response amplitude operator' (RAO) analysis. Then, the approach is applied to investigate wave resonances of the gap liquid. In the first series of case studies, two identical barges are considered. Effects of the barge distance and draft on the gap resonance are investigated. It is found that, as the gap distance grows from narrow to wide, the dominant resonance may transfer from the piston type to the sloshing type. As the barge draft decreases, this transfer would emerge earlier. The second series of case studies concern two different barges in a close proximity. It is found that the relative breadth of two barges has minor effects on the resonance frequency, but affects RAOs at resonance evidently. The relative barge draft has a strong effect on resonance frequencies. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.