The performance and critical function of the bracket in the fish farming cage system
highlight the special importance of this component. The bracket is responsible for
maintaining the shape and geometry of the fish farming cage; in fact, by keeping
the floating pipes and handrail pipes stable, it forms the floating structure of the
cage. In this study, the bracket used in the Persian Gulf was designed and analyzed
using two software programs, CATIA and Abaqus, respectively. The behavioral
and geometric specifications of the base model were obtained from a bracket
currently in use in the industry in the Persian Gulf, with the collaboration of the
Fisheries Department of Bushehr Province.
First, from the perspective of material type and behavioral characteristics (HDPE-
PE100), the stress contour and displacement under the influence of external forces
were examined. The results showed that with an increase in the elastic modulus, the
material’s stiffness increases, and consequently, the displacement of the point
considered in the middle of the bracket shell decreases. Based on the references and
available information on behavioral characteristics and conducted analyses, high-
density polyethylene with an elastic modulus of 670 MPa was selected as the most
suitable material, considering its availability in Iran.
Next, the bracket was examined by changing the shell thickness and reinforcements
under the influence of external forces. The studies showed that increasing the
thickness of the reinforcement leads to a reduction in the displacement of the middle
of the shell, such that if the thickness decreases from 15 mm (base thickness) to 13
mm, the displacement increases by 7.3%. On the other hand, if the thickness
increases from 15 mm to 17 mm, the maximum displacement will decrease by
17.35%. Additionally, considering the base model’s shell thickness of 16 mm, a 2
mm reduction in thickness will increase the maximum displacement by 24.2%,
while a 2 mm increase in shell t