Experimental analysis of the hydrodynamic coefficients of net panels in current

The hydrodynamic loads on net panels were affected significantly by the net configuration and the Reynolds number. Six groups of net panels with different materials, net solidities and knot patterns were experimentally analyzed in this study. The concept of the cruciform element was proposed to calculate the hydrodynamic loads on net panels. The effect of the net solidity, the net material, the knot pattern and the Reynolds number on the hydrodynamic coefficients of net panels in current was comprehensively discussed. A formula, which was suitable for the net panels with high solidity, was proposed to estimate the hydrodynamic coefficients of net panels in current based on the theoretical and experimental analysis of the measurements. The results indicated that the relationship between the Reynolds number and the drag coefficient of the net panel was similar to that for the circular cylinder when the net solidity was low (0.190); with the increase of the net solidity, the influence of the Reynolds number on the drag coefficient of the net panel decreased. In addition, the net-grouping standard was discussed and a correction factor for modifying the drag-coefficient of the equivalent net model was proposed.