Experimental Investigation of the Hydrodynamic Performance of a Semi-Submersible Aquaculture Cage

The rapid expansion of aquaculture necessitates the development of advanced technologies to enhance the stability and survivability of deep-sea aquaculture platforms. This study investigates the hydrodynamic performance of a trussed semi-submersible aquaculture cage (TSAC) through comprehensive wave tank experiments. A 1:32 scaled-down prototype was manufactured and used to evaluate key hydrodynamic characteristics, including the natural frequency, radiation damping, horizontal mooring stiffness, Response Amplitude Operator (RAO), and mooring force, under regular wave excitation. Experimental results indicate that the pitch RAO can reach a value of up to 32.87°/m under high-wave conditions, and the windward-side mooring forces exhibit periodic fluctuations while others remain almost stable. The results provide critical data for the development of high-fidelity numerical models and offer practical insights for the optimal design and deployment of large-scale deep-sea aquaculture platforms, contributing to the advancement of sustainable marine aquaculture technologies.