This study presents (i) a hybrid experimental strategy combining a large-scale wave flume and harbor basin for broad-period buoy hydrodynamic characterization, with internal consistency assessment across the facility transition, (ii) a comprehensive, uncertainty-quantified dataset for a shallow-draft disk-shaped buoy (D/T ≈ 10) including RAOs with repeatability statistics, extreme sea-state responses, and environmental load coefficients with uncertainty bounds, and (iii) new physical insights into the roll damping mechanism of such geometries without appendages. A hybrid experimental strategy was employed, integrating a large-scale wave flume (for long-period waves and currents) with a harbor basin (for short-period waves and wind), aiming to mitigate the scale effects inherent in Froude-scaled models, particularly with regard to drag force measurements. The test matrix included free decay in calm water, RAOs under regular waves, motion and mooring line tension under irregular waves, and measurements of wind and current drag coefficients. Key results indicate a natural roll period of approximately 3.0 s (prototype) with a notably high dimensionless damping ratio (ζ ≈ 0.14–0.15), which is conducive to rapid motion attenuation. A pronounced resonance peak in the roll RAO (26.6°/m) was observed near the 3.0 s. Under an extreme sea state (prototype: Hs = 13.8 m, Tp = 16.1 s), the maximum roll angle and dynamic mooring line tension reached 21.30° and 61.56 kN, respectively, the latter being about 3.0 times the static pretension. The mean wind drag coefficient and current drag coefficient were determined as 0.76 and 0.44. This research provides a comprehensive dataset with quantified uncertainty and critical insights for the design, mooring system optimization, and operational safety assessment of such disk-shaped buoys. The hybrid testing approach demonstrated qualitative consistency across the two facilities, pending quantitative cross-validation through dedicated overlapping tests, and the measured roll damping (ζ = 0.14–0.15, expanded uncertainty ±0.01–0.011) is favorable for motion stability within the tested Reynolds-number range. Full-scale validation is recommended to confirm these findings under prototype conditions. Wind, wave, and current effects were tested separately and then comprehensively assessed.
Tan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.