Simulation Technology and System Development for Physical Model Test of Large-Scale Submerged Floating Tunnel

Submerged Floating Tunnel (SFT) can serve as a new type of underwater transportation in the future. However, not any practical SFT projects have been built as yet in the world. Available investigations are mainly conducted theoretically, numerically, or through physical model test, etc. Based on the literature, experimental studies in particular, and field surveys on wave tanks, the functional requirements of the SFT experimental system are proposed, and the simulation technology for the physical model test is studied and the test system designed based on possible working conditions. At present, the system has been used to complete the fundamental research on the changing characteristics of mooring line tension of SFT under the wave-current coupling actions with a large scale of 1:40, thus filling the gap in the physical model test and platform development of large-scale SFT in China, which may underpin national key and difficult projects of underwater tunnels.