Simulation of a floating bollard of a ship lock by the finite element method

Abstract

One of the main elements of the lock’s mooring equipment is the floating bollard. Failure of this element of the mooring equipment always leads to great difficulties in organizing ship passes in the lock, in terms of the arrangement of vessels in the lock chamber and the forced withdrawal of locks from work to bring the floating bollards into working condition. Therefore, the analysis of the performance of this element, both at the design stage and during operation, taking into account various options for its loading under the action of changing external conditions, is an urgent task. The article presents the results of a study of one of the structures of a floating bollard of a ship’s lock, which is in real operation. The studies were carried out using the finite element method, in which 3D modeling of the device under consideration was carried out and its stress-strain state was analyzed under various loading options, taking into account the dynamics of mooring operations and weather conditions. A comparative analysis of the created finite element model of the device under consideration with its simplified model in the form of an elastic beam system with a uniform cross section is carried out. A graphic interpretation of the results of the analysis of the stress-strain state of the device under consideration is given, in which the most loaded structural elements are distinguished. The identified location of the places of the largest stress-strain state is proposed to be used as a theoretical basis for the deployment of sensors of the system for alerting the state of the loading of the floating bollard of the ship lock.