Author(s): Helena I. S. Nogueira, Tom O'mahoney, Arne Van Der Hout, Wim Kortlever
Linked Author(s): Helena Nogueira
Keywords: Navigation lock, hydraulic structures, density currents, mooring forces.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the effect of density differences on the forces acting on a moored vessel during locking operations. Based on hydraulic scale model, research performed for the new sea lock in Ijmuiden at the entrance to the Port of Amsterdam, it is shown that in the presence of density differences with asymmetric mooring of the ship in the lock chamber, the hydrodynamic forces generated during levelling, and after opening the lock gate, can largely exceed the allowable force limit. In particular, forces in the transversal direction of the ship, which are often not considered in hydraulic research of lock operations, can be significantly larger in these conditions. The forces due to density differences are the dominant forces in the performed tests and the performance of the levelling system cannot be assessed without taking this into consideration
Year: 2017