EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE SEAWORTHINESS CHARACTERISTICS OF FLEXIBLY CONNECTED BARGE TRAINS

This report presents the results of seaworthiness experiments conducted with a system of models of four semirigidly linked river barges which is referred to as the Barge Train. The linkage connectors permit relative pitch freedom and some relative heave displacement; but considerable restraint is provided for all other relative motions. Some of the more important results of the investigation are: (a) Barge linkage connector configuration 3 resulted in considerably larger motions and forces than did connector configurations 1 or 2; while the heave acceleration of the barges are smallest for connector configuration 1. (b) The most severe moments and forces measured during the entire experiment were at the 120 degree heading. For /LA = 1.75 and at a wave steepness of 1/50, barges B and C began to collide with each other and the connectors between them were severely bent. (c) The Barge Train motions are greatest at the 120 degree heading. (d) For most of the conditions, the forces and moments at the connectors between barges B and C were larger than for any of the other connectors. (Color illustrations reproduced in black and white)