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The wave resistance of a buoy is affected by the mode of anchorage and the buoy structure. Combining the structures and the mode of anchorage of the existing buoys, designing a buoy with significantly improved wave resistance is a major challenge for marine environment monitoring. This work carried out experimental and numerical simulation studies on the hydrodynamic properties of a self-designed symmetrical three-cylinder buoy. The wave resistance of the buoy was analyzed using different wave conditions, and a full-scale simulation of the buoy was performed using the finite element method and lumped mass method. Experimentally, it was found that the symmetrical three-cylinder buoy stability was less affected by the wave height, but mainly by the wave period. Additionally, the effects of wave height and wave period on mooring tension were also studied, and the results showed that mooring tension was mainly affected by wave period, which was explained by the rate of change of the buoy momentum. Finally, a numerical model was proposed for the interpretation of these experiments. Results from numerical simulations for the trajectory of the buoy and the tension of the mooring cable correlated well with the experimental data.

A series of model tests was performed to evaluate the survivability of an articulated tower-type buoy structure under harsh environmental conditions. The buoy structure consisted of three long pipes, a buoyancy module, and top equipment. The scale model was made of acrylic pipe and plastic with a scale ratio of 1/22. The experiments were carried out at the ocean engineering basin of KRISO. The performance of the buoy structure was investigated under waves only and under combined environmental conditions from sea state (SS) 5 to 7. A nonlinear time-domain numerical simulation was conducted using the mooring analysis program OrcaFlex. The survivability of the buoy was analyzed based on three factors: the pitch motion, submergence of the top structure, and anchor reaction force. The model test results were directly compared to the results of numerical simulations. The effects of the sea state and combined environment on the performance of the buoy structure were investigated.