Numerical investigation of the effect of geometric and hydrodynamic parameters of waves on the performance of rectangular floating pontoon breakwater structure

Considering that pontoon breakwaters are among the most common floating breakwaters, which have many advantages over other types of fixed breakwaters, therefore, in the present study, the performance of the rectangular section of this structure under the conditions of Caspian Sea waves has been studied. In this study, ANSYS AQWA software was used, and the analyzes were carried out in the form of hydrostatic analysis and time history analysis by applying the 20-year average wave conditions of the region and time history analysis under the conditions of regional limit waves. In order to validate and calibrate the model, McCartney's 1985 laboratory data has been used. The results of the research show that in the conditions of hydrostatic analysis, the highest amount of displacement occurred in the Heave movement and the lowest amount of displacement occurred in the Surge movement, which is very insignificant. The displacement in Heave movement under the wave period of 6 seconds has the highest value (1.6142 m) and the lowest value in the period of 2 seconds. Also, in the same condition, the analysis of the amount of rotation around the Z and Y axes is very small compared to the rotation around the X axis. Even the maximum values of the rotation around the Y and Z axes are less than the minimum rotation around the X axis with a value of 6.7504e-05 (°/m) which occurs in a period of 2 seconds.