TIME-DOMAIN RESPONSES OF IMMERSING TUNNEL ELEMENT UNDER WAVE ACTIONS

The time domain responses of the tunnel element under wave actions during its immersion are investigated based on the linear wave diffraction theory. The integral equation is derived by using the time-domain Green function that satisfies the free water surface condition in the finite water depth, and is solved by the boundary element method. The motion equations of the tunnel element are solved by the fourth order Runge-Kutta method. A comparison between the computed and measured results reveals that the numerical model can effectively simulate the motion responses of the tunnel element and the cable tensions when the motions of the tunnel element are within some limit. Taking the tunnel element of 100 m in length, 15 m in width and 10 m in height as an example, the computational results of the motion responses of the tunnel element and the cable tensions in different immersing depths are obtained under different incident wave conditions.