Interest in understanding the structural behavior of marine floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems has grown significantly over the last decade. Numerical models are the preferred approach for understanding FPV responses under environmental loads, but they require validation. Several methods are commonly used to validate numerical results, such as comparison with analytical, field data, and experimental data. The use of analytical approaches to validate numerical results can sometimes be inaccurate due to the complexity of the problems; nevertheless, field data is commonly restricted and frequently unavailable for numerical model validation. Thus, physical models play a crucial role in validating numerical results. This study focuses on the two-dimensional (2-D) modeling process and sensors development for an FPV system with taut mooring, aiming to investigate wave-structure interaction while considering hydroelastic effects. The model is developed in accordance with the Froude-Cauchy similitude law and is made from composite materials to capture structural stiffness. Structural motions, specifically heave and pitch, are measured using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), while strain gauges measure structural stress and mooring tension. The sensors provide precise measurements for strain and pitch; however, heave, as a result of time-domain integration from acceleration, requires further validation. The motion responses of the model align with reference results.

Pitting corrosion in free-spanning subsea pipelines under combined loading remains poorly understood in terms of localized stress behavior. This study presents a numerical investigation into the effects of uniform pitting corrosion in carbon steel pipelines subjected to combined internal pressure and bending moments, representing conditions of a free-spanning pipeline under localized corrosion. A non-linear finite element model was developed using an elastic-plastic constitutive model for API Grade X65 steel. The model simulates a 28-inch diameter pipeline subjected to quasi-static internal pressure and bending. A series of parametric studies was conducted to examine the influence of uniform pit depth (25% and 50% of the wall thickness), corrosion location in the upper and lower 180° circumferential regions, and applied moment with bending stress levels ranging from 20% to 80% of the material’s yield strength. The results show that as bending stress increases, the difference in structural response between intact and corroded pipelines decreases, with corroded regions exhibiting up to three times higher localized stress compared to intact areas. The results also show that deeper corrosion pits lead to higher localized stress, with increases of up to 10% on the tensile side and 28% on the compressive side. Additionally, pits in the compressive zone generated stress concentrations up to 18% higher than those in the tensile zone, due to the combined effects of bending curvature and internal pressure. This study provides insight into the localized stress behavior in corroded pipelines under combined loading, which is essential for integrity assessment.

The offshore jack-up production platform operates in extreme and unpredictable marine environments. Therefore, its structural strength must be designed to withstand harsh conditions, particularly hydrodynamic loads from waves and ocean currents. This study aims to numerically analyze the interaction of marine hydrodynamic forces with a jack-up production platform using OpenFOAM v1606, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. Specifically, the research evaluates a buoyancy-modified k−ω SST turbulence model based on the Standard Gradient Diffusion Hypothesis (SGDH) on a 3D jack-up platform model. The analysis is conducted using a Stokes 5th-order wave model within the waves2Foam toolbox, considering four variations in wave height and period. The results demonstrate that the modified turbulence model provides more accurate predictions. Additionally, they reveal that the forces acting on the platform’s walls are directly proportional to wave height and period, with the highest recorded load reaching 4000 N in Case A, where the wave height and period are 5.4 m and 5.9 s, respectively. Furthermore, it is observed that most of the forces exerted on the platform hull are vertical, primarily due to the negative pressure on the platform’s bottom side.

This study experimentally investigates the hydrodynamic response of a modular floating photovoltaic (FPV) system, where individual floaters behave as rigid bodies, and global responses are governed by connector configurations (fixed and flexible connectors) under regular waves. The effects of wave period, water depth, and bottom profile variation are examined. To represent hydroelasticity effects, two different models were developed: a fully rigidly connected array and a hybrid system combining flexible and rigid connectors. The results revealed that flexible connectors reduce global load transfer for incoming waves perpendicular to their rotational axis but introduce higher variability in heave and pitch, whereas rigid connectors produce more coherent motion with higher mean tension. Heave response is primarily governed by resonance and depth-dependent effects. In contrast, pitch response is driven by wave steepness, where larger surface slopes induce stronger differential loading. Bottom profile variation further increases spatial non-uniformity in both responses. Taut mooring systems induce overwash that may affect measurements, highlighting the need to separate mooring and structural models. Although based on a two-dimensional setup, the results provide qualitative insights, supporting further coupled experimental and numerical analyses.