Experimental Assessment of Booms Subjected to Highly Energetic Flow Conditions

Booms are flexible retention structures used in water bodies for stopping ice pieces, accumulating floating debris, and serving as highly visible floating safety barriers. High flow velocities can cause increased dynamic loading on booms, potentially increasing the risk of failure.Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted at high flow velocities on booms (or pontoons) fabricated using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, each designed with different submerged depths, while cables were attached to the ends of the pontoon, extending down through the water at an angle, through pulleys attached to the flume floor, and then connected to a load cell. Time series of anchoring cable load and acceleration of the pontoon in three directions were collected, as well as time series of pontoon displacement. The high magnitude and extreme load fluctuations observed at elevated flow velocities suggest that simplified drag force equations, as recommended in design guidelines, may be insufficient. Furthermore, the high frequency of load variation highlights the importance of considering fatigue failure.