Numerical analysis of the effects of sinker weight on the hydrodynamics behaviour of gravity cage net in uniform flow*

A dynamic model for 3D net structures exposed to current is proposed, based on lumped masses method. In this paper, the model is used to analyze the influences on net of gravity sea cage by the different sinker weights in uniform flow. Under different current velocities, the deformations and loads of net of gravity sea cage with different sinker weights are calculated, respectively. According to the results of simulation, the volume losses and drag forces of the net cage under different velocities and sinker weights are estimated. In order to verify the validity of the numerical results, the numerical simulation results are compared with PalF.Lader and Birger Enerhaug[1] experimental ones. The comparison show that the agreement is within a range of 15% under different velocities and sinker weights