Article

Experimental and numerical studies of a bottom-fixed aquaculture platform with different net configurations under wave loading

Ocean Engineering

Ji, Jian ; Liu, Bin ; Guedes Soares, C. — 2026 — Elsevier

Key information

Authors:

Ji, Jian; Liu, Bin (Bin Li); Zhou, Lilan; Guedes Soares, C. (Carlos Guedes Soares)

Published in

March 1, 2026

Abstract

This study presents a combined experimental and numerical investigation of the wave attenuation performance of a bottom-fixed aquaculture cage equipped with double-layer side nets. A porous media model is adopted to simulate the hydrodynamic effect of nets, and the numerical method is validated through scaled-down model experiments. A series of simulations is conducted to investigate the effects of net layering, net solidity, differential inner-outer net arrangements and draft depth on wave attenuation. The results show that, compared with the single-layer side net, a double-layer net arrangement can more effectively attenuate wave propagation. Several net cage configurations with different solidity values between the inner and outer side nets are studied. Wave attenuation is affected not only by overall solidity but also by the location of the denser net layer. Moderate drafts achieve greater attenuation than excessively shallow or deep configurations, with the best performance observed between 1.1 m and 1.3 m for this study. The findings suggest that a well-designed set of side netting layers and an adjustment of net solidity are relatively feasible ways to control wave propagation and attenuation. The results provide some references for optimising the hydrodynamics of cages deployed in wave-exposed regions.

Publication details

Authors in the community:

Publication version

VoR - Version of Record

Publisher

Elsevier

Link to the publisher's version

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029801825037631

Title of the publication container

Ocean Engineering

First page or article number

124081

Volume

348

ISSN

0029-8018

DOI

10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.124081

Fields of Science and Technology (FOS)

other-engineering-and-technologies - Other engineering and technologies

Keywords

  • Porous medium model
  • Net solidity
  • Hydrodynamic characteristic
  • Double-layer nets
  • Bottom-fixed

Publication language (ISO code)

eng - English

Rights type:

Open access