Experimental study on dynamic response of submerged floating tunnel moored with different material cables

The cables of the cable-moored type Submerged floating tunnel (SFT) are one of the main load-bearing carriers. Therefore, the selection of appropriate cable material is the key for ensuring the security and stability of SFT. This study aims to investigate the effects of five different cable materials—Steel, Chain, Nylon, Aramid, and CFRP—on the dynamic response of SFT. The physical scale segment model of SFT moored with the five cable materials is designed for systematic experimental research. A series of model test conditions (i.e., wave current parameter, pretension, cable failure, etc) are adopted for a comparative analysis of the dynamic response and cable tension of the SFTs. The result shows the tube's natural frequency for the five models in the sway and roll directions are similar (i.e., 1.4 Hz) and the cable damping of Chain is 10 times more than that of CFRP. Generally, the mooring restraint capacity, from the best to the worst, is as follows: Chain, Steel, CFRP, Aramid, and Nylon. During the failure of the cable, Aramid exhibits the highest dynamic coefficient, while CFRP exhibits the lowest. This study has significant engineering relevance for the design of cable materials for SFT in complex marine environments.