Hydrodynamic behavior of long-large marine construction square barges protected by a floating wave–current attenuation device

In offshore construction, long-large marine construction square barges play a crucial role in lifting and sinking operations. These projects inevitably encounter complex and unstable ocean wave and current environments, where excessive hull movement can compromise both the accuracy and safety of construction activities. This study proposes a novel floating wave–current attenuation device to protect square barges. The hydrodynamic behavior of this innovative method is experimentally investigated and compared with that of different forms of protection in a large wave–current flume. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis for key parameters of the square barge and an optimization of the floating protection device are conducted in detail. The results show that the use of the floating protection device significantly reduces the dynamic response of the square barge. Specifically, there are reductions in sway, heave, roll, and relative cable force by nearly 10 times, 8 times, 12 times, and 5 times, respectively. Furthermore, during actual construction operations involving square barges, optimal protection methods and economic benefits can be attained by reducing the freeboard value, establishing appropriate protection spacing, and adjusting the tension of the mooring system. This study provides valuable insights into the protection of large marine construction square barges.