Simulation and Validation of a Numerical Model of a Full Aquaculture Net-Cage System

Numerical simulation models are useful tools for the design and capacity analyses of cage-based fish farm systems. To ensure that such tools produce realistic estimates on forces and deformations experienced by fish farms, it is important to validate the models through comparison with experiments. A recent experiment investigated the response of a scaled model of a full aquaculture net cage placed in a mooring system when exposed to waves and current. In this study, a numerical model of this system containing the main components used in the physical experiments was set up and simulated. After simulations the tension in anchor lines, bridles and buoys were compared to the corresponding data series obtained in the experiments. The comparison indicated that FhSim was able to reproduce the main dynamics and responses of the physical model when exposed to currents and waves. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted, aimed at investigating how much model output is affected by variations in the stiffness of the mooring system.