Sensitivity analysis of the cage volume and mooring forces for a gravity cage subjected to current and waves.

A numerical model is developed to calculate the mooring forces and cage volumes for a gravity cage system. The collar, nets, bottom ring and mooring system are all modelled by line elements due to the slender structure. The effect of structural parameters on the cage capacity and mooring forces is evaluated in a sensitivity analysis, to provide knowledge in the design phase of a fish cage. Heaver sinkers and nets with smaller solidity are preferred to prevent the volume reduction of fish cages but they lead to a larger mooring force or an increase in the probability of fish escaping. Linear wave theory is applied. Short waves increase the mean value of the mooring force and higher waves result in a larger amplitude of the mooring force. It is also found that short waves can change the shape of the nets while the shape of the cage subjected to long waves almost keeps constant as the one under uniform flow, which obtains a good agreement as previous experiments. • A numerical model to calculate the mooring forces and cage volumes for a gravity cage is developed and validated. • Sensitivity studies determine the influence of various governing parameters on the dynamic response. • Effects studied are the elasticity of the net, weight of the bottom ring and the net solidity. • Short waves reduce the cage volume and the amplitudes of mooring forces, but increases the the mooring force. • The average value of mooring forces and cage volumes approach those in uniform flow when the wave period increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]