Maximum theoretical power absorption of connected floating bodies under motion constraints

In this paper, a mathematical model is presented to evaluate the maximum mean power that can be absorbed by a three-dimensional system of connected floating bodies in waves under a weighted global constraint. The constraint imposed on the motion amplitudes of the system can be used to limit the motions of the bodies in order to make sure that the assumption of linear theory for wave-structure interaction remains valid. The absorbed power of a structure can be considered as the difference between excitation and radiated power without consideration of practical power take off. The solutions for the maximum relative capture widths of rigidly connected two rafts have a good agreement with the calculated ones for the same rafts being seen as a single whole structure. Meanwhile, the results of maximum power absorption of two hinged slender rafts in cuboid shape give a good agreement as well with those by using slender-body approximations. Then dynamics of a hinged two rafts are studied and results show how the maximum efficiency is affected by raft width and restricting the motions. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.