Hi Wesley,

OK, I think I understand now (maybe). Presumably, this is a positive displacement pump (?) and the pulsations have a significant delta P (or does it have fast closing valves? Otherwise, why the concern about potential liquid hammer?).

The overall system structural analysis (system as an irregular space frame made up of "beams") can be handled by CAESAR II and since the source of the acoustic waves is presumably the pump, the "at the pump" flow characteristics (ignoring any damping) should be available from the pump manufacturer. The design of anchors and other supports and restraints will then be handled easily by CAESAR II. The effect of pressure pulsations on wall thickness (and weld) design for components should give you some "interesting" moments.

There may be some amount of pulsation energy damping due to the circumferential elasticity of the hose but it will be difficult to quantify it. Maybe you should assume no damping because of the inexact nature of the potential acoustic waves. Have you looked into pulsation damping chambers ("pulsation bottles")? Pulsation bottles can be arranged (spaced) so that the pressure pulsations, peak-to-peak, are reacted out-of-phase by the bottles and they thereby use the pulsation energy to damp the pulsations (magic). The problem with this (bottles) is that the pump energy time-force load application will be altered and it might be necessary to do a CFD analysis to get accurate loadings at changes in direction (points of acoustic wave impact).

Is it too obvious to suggest a good anchor at the hose end of your piping (so good that the hose will break if one barge is pulled away from the other)?

Are we getting closer?

Regards, John.