Effect of articulations on the hydroelastic analysis of VLFS integrated with porous floating breakwater

The present study examines the hydroelastic interactions of a multi-module very large floating structure interconnected by articulated hinges and integrated with porous floating breakwaters. Unlike monolithic VLFS designs, the articulated VLFS introduce unique dynamic challenges due to connector forces and inter-module wave interference, which have not been thoroughly explored when integrated with porous wave attenuation mechanisms. The study develops a coupled numerical framework that combines a multi-domain boundary element method for wave interaction with porous structures and a finite difference method for the structural response of hinged modules. This model explicitly resolves interactions between waves, structures, and connectivity, including the effects of breakwater porosity and hinge constraint dynamics. Critical parameters such as hinge stiffness, module spacing, breakwater placement, and porosity are systematically varied to quantify their influence on inter-modular bending moments, shear forces, and wave transmission. The investigation demonstrate that articulation redistributes peak stresses, reducing maximum bending moments in individual modules by 15%–25% compared to rigid configurations, although it can amplify torsion at hinge points under oblique waves. Moreover, porous breakwaters that are strategically positioned between modules suppress wave resonance in the gaps, reducing connector forces by 30%–40% and attenuates transmitted energy by over 45%. However, to avoid detrimental wave trapping between modules, the porosity of the breakwaters must exceed 25%. The study establishes that optimal hinge design, combined with breakwaters tailored for porosity, mitigates hydroelastic penalties in multi-module systems which enables scalable VLFS deployments in exposed seas and advanced design methodologies for adaptive, large-scale floating infrastructure.