Hydrodynamic Assessment of Floating Dock Behavior: A Case Study in Bahonar Port, Bandar Abbas

Abstract

Floating marine structures have become increasingly prominent due to their adaptability, ease of installation, and cost-effectiveness compared with traditional fixed docks and breakwaters. Serving functions such as wave attenuation and vessel berthing, these systems are particularly suitable for regions affected by tidal variations or soft seabed conditions. This study provides a detailed hydrodynamic assessment of modular floating docks developed for Bahonar Port in Bandar Abbas. The investigation began with the geometric modeling of pontoon modules using CATIA, followed by dynamic simulations in ANSYS AQWA to analyze wave–structure interactions. The analysis concentrated on the principal motion responses—heave, roll, and pitch—under various wave incidence angles. The results show that increasing pontoon draft decreases the system’s natural frequency, whereas wider pontoons effectively reduce heave amplitudes due to enhanced hydrodynamic inertia. Furthermore, the optimal alignment of the dock relative to prevailing wave directions markedly lowers environmental loading. Overall, the findings demonstrate that articulated multi-hull floating docks can substantially reduce vertical displacements and improve stability, particularly for highspeed vessel operations. The Response Amplitude Operator (RAO) analysis further clarifies the motion characteristics of the system across a wide range of sea states, offering valuable insights for the design of resilient and efficient floating dock structures