Influence of Structural Parameters on Deformation Behavior of Metal Rhombic Chain Mesh

Metal net cages, with their wave resistance, corrosion resistance, and anti-fouling properties, have gained attention as promising ecological aquaculture systems. The deformation of netting directly affects the effective culture volume under load. This study aims to explore the deformation resistance of metal diamond chain netting and the impact of structural parameters on its deformation characteristics. Using beam and contact elements, this study employs finite element analysis (FEA) to simulate static deformation and validate the model with experimental results. Simulations under various structural parameters were performed to assess the effects of netting solidity and initial tension on bending deformation under concentrated and distributed loads. The results show that both increased solidity and initial tension lead to enhanced bending stiffness and reduced deformation. Specifically, increasing netting solidity from 0.11 to 0.29 reduces displacement by 53.07% and 68.68%, respectively, and force by 71.89% and 41.55%. Similarly, increasing initial tension from 200 N to 300 N results in minor reductions in displacement (3.48% and 3.52%). This study concludes that netting solidity has a more significant effect on deformation than initial tension, which aligns with the experimental results showing greater reductions in displacement and wire force with increasing solidity. These findings support the model’s validity and offer guidance for metallic netting design.