Dynamic Response Comparison of Mono and Dual Submerged Floating Tunnels

Abstract

Submerged floating tunnel (SFT) concept has been studied by many researchers as an alternative of conventional or floating bridges, especially in the fjord or as a connection between island and land. One of the major challenges is large dynamic responses under extreme wave and earthquake excitations. In this regard, two different types of SFT, which are mono and dual SFTs, are suggested in this study, and the global performance of them is compared through tunnel-mooring fully-coupled time-domain numerical simulations. The tunnel and mooring lines are modeled by the lumped-mass-based line model. The Morison equation is utilized for hydrodynamic load estimations of the tunnel and mooring lines at their instantaneous positions. To check dynamic response of SFT under operating condition, 10-yr waves with the current are considered as an environmental condition. Dynamic responses, mooring tensions, and inertial and drag forces are systematically compared.