Abstract
This paper examines the hydroelastic responses of SeaFisher (a modular high-density polyethylene offshore fish pen) of different lengths, under wave and current actions, and at the water surface or at a submerged depth. The hydroelastic analysis of the SeaFisher with its single point mooring line system was performed by using the software package AquaSim that is specially tailored for hydroelastic analysis of aquaculture infrastructure. It is found that by lengthening the SeaFisher design, it becomes prone to failure by bending and buckling of structural members. Longer SeaFisher would require larger structural members for the frames or using stronger materials such as glass fibre reinforced HDPE pipes. The direction of the wave impacting the SeaFisher has a significant effect on the structural performance in general. When the incident wave direction is perpendicular to the SeaFisher, it experiences the least amount of force. When the wave and the current acts in the opposite directions, the SeaFisher is subjected to relatively higher compressive forces in structural members and the SeaFisher may fail by buckling, especially when it is long.
