Numerical Study of Plate Deformation under Impulse Loading for Backward Bent Duct Buoy (BBDB) Applications

Impulse loading can cause significant structural deformation in marine structures, particularly in floating wave energy structures such as the Backward Bent Duct Buoy (BBDB). This study presents a numerical investigation of plate deformation subjected to impulse loading using the Underwater Shock Loading Simulator (USLS) configuration. The numerical model was developed using the Finite Element Method (FEM) in ABAQUS. The model was validated against a reference study, showing good agreement with a peak pressure error of less than 1%. A parametric study was then conducted for steel AH24 and composite carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates with thicknesses of 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm. For CFRP laminates, the required thickness was achieved by increasing the number of plies. The results show that increasing thickness reduces the structural deformation for both materials. The maximum displacement of AH24 steel decreases from 5.59 mm to 1.68 mm, while CFRP ranges from 6.32 mm to 4.33 mm for the same thickness variations. These results indicate that steel plates provide higher resistance to impulse loading than CFRP laminates for BBDB floating structures.