Experimental study on the hydrodynamic performance of a floating wind-wave-aquaculture multi-use platform

The integration of wind energy, wave energy, and aquaculture on a shared floating platform can improve offshore space and infrastructure utilisation. Model-scale regular-wave experiments were conducted on a semi-submersible multi-use platform configured with different combinations of a simplified wind-turbine module, an oscillating water column (OWC) array, and flexible or rigid cage components. A comparative test matrix was used to separate draft effects from module induced and system-level responses. The prescribed steady thrust primarily altered the mean surge offset and mooring load distribution, whereas the changed mass distribution and rotational inertia associated with the wind-turbine module affected the wave-frequency responses. At T = 1.1 s, the maximum tension increase and mean tension variation of the windward line were 85.0% and 100.0% higher, respectively, after the wind turbine module was installed. The rigid perforated cage produced the largest response changes, amplifying the mooring-controlled low-frequency surge response and windward mooring loads. Compared with the rigid-cage configuration, the fully coupled OWC-integrated configuration exhibited 28.3%–57.1% lower heave responses and 18.7%–56.4% lower pitch responses. At the system level, the observed behaviour reflects the competition between cage-induced low-frequency load amplification and OWC-related motion mitigation. These findings clarify the coupled hydrodynamics of floating wind-wave-aquaculture systems and support the coordinated design of the cage, OWC, and mooring subsystems.