THREE-DIMENSIONAL NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF A SLOPING-TOP CAISSON

The three-dimensional (3-D) behavior of a sloping-top caisson floating near a fixed existing caisson was investigated using a 3-D coupled fluid-structure-sediment-seabed interaction model (FS3M). From comparison with hydraulic experiments, the predictive capability of the FS3M was demonstrated in terms of the amplitude of the motion of the caisson except for the yaw. Numerical results showed that the offshore and existing-caisson side of the bottom of the caisson can contact with the mound, suggesting that 3-D analysis capable of assessing the pitch of the caisson is essential.