Study of impact loads in mooring operations using the finite element method

In this study, the impact of a ship during docking maneuvers with a floating structure used in the Chilean aquaculture industry is analyzed using a structural finite element model. The commercial finite element software ANSYS, specifically its Explicit Dynamics module, is used to evaluate the effects of the collision on the fish farm structure. The geometry of the floating structure is simplified, considering only main structural components while the portion of the vessel impacting the floating system is modeled as a rigid plate to represent ship displacement and total kinetic energy. A low-velocity, high-energy impact was simulated to quantify stress distribution, deformation and energy dissipation on the system. The proposed methodology is useful for designing reinforcements on the structure, optimize fenders positions and define the appropriate ship speed in the maneuvers to prevent irreversible damage to the fish farm structure. The application of this methodology generates valuable information to improve the safety and efficiency of maneuvers between vessels and floating structures, considering the challenges that may arise during docking and load/crew transfer in protected waters. Further on-site validation of the proposed methodology is required and the use of a more complex solver to describe nonlinear behavior of structures, particularly, large inelastic deformations is proposed based on numerical results.