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Experimental study of current forces and deformations on a half ellipsoidal closed flexible fish cage

Abstract

Closed flexible fish cages are proposed as a new concept in marine aquaculture, replacing the conventional net cages in order to meet ecological challenges related to fish lice and escapes. It is important to understand the response of the cage exposed to current loads. Then more knowledge about forces and deformations on the closed flexible fish cage for different filling levels is needed. A scaled model of a closed flexible fish cage shaped like a half ellipsoid was tested in a towing-tank. Global drag forces and bag deformations were measured for four different filling levels between 70% and 100%, and steady current velocities between 0.04 m/s and 0.22 m/s in model scale, corresponding to Reynolds numbers in the range Re=3–17×104Re=3–17×104. Findings from the experiments showed that the drag force increased for decreasing filling levels. This increase was caused by a large deformation of the front of the bag affecting the drag coefficient.
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Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Ida Marlen Strand
  • Asgeir Johan Sørensen
  • Zsolt Volent
  • Pål Lader

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Ocean / Aquaculture
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Year

2016

Published in

Journal of Fluids and Structures

ISSN

0889-9746

Volume

65

Page(s)

108 - 120

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository