Study on Extreme Wave Loads of a Multiply-Connected Domain Tourism Platform Under the Survival Condition

The tourism platform “Heart of Ocean” is a new type of Multiply-Connected Domain Floating Structures (MCDFSs). This platform is heart-shaped and assembled by several modules through connection systems. Due to the large dimensions the overall structural stiffness of the platform is relatively low, thus the fluid-structure interaction must be considered thanks to the possible large structural deformation induced by ocean waves. Therefore, predicting extreme wave loads of the platform is a problem to be solved for the structural design and analysis of this new type of platform. In this paper, a three-dimensional hydroelastic analysis method for MCDFSs in time domain is proposed and applied for studying extreme wave loads under the survival condition. Firstly, the basic theory of the hydroelastic analysis method is briefly presented. Then, the numerical model of the tourism platform is introduced. Finally, a comprehensive study on extreme wave loads of the tourism platform under the survival condition is conducted. Moreover, the effects of wave directions on structural loads are analyzed, and characteristic structural loads are identified. Several conclusions on the assessment of the structural strength of the platform are summarized, which may provide useful guidance for the structure design of MCDFSs.