Numerical Modeling of a Single-Point Mooring Cage With a Frontal Rigid Frame

In recent years, the development of single-point mooring (SPM) cage systems has attracted much attention due to its eco-friendly features. A numerical model of this cage system is developed to estimate the maximum tension force of mooring system and net-volume deformation under a typical 50-year return period of local sea state. The results show that the cage system with a rigid frame can improve the net-volume deformation significantly in comparison to its counterpart without a frame, but its mooring line tension will slightly increase. The study also illustrates that the maximum tension will rise linearly as the number of cages increases, but the net-volume reduction coefficient remains almost the same.