Non-Linear Air Gap Analyses of a Semi-Submersible Compared With Linear Analyses and Model Tests

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jørgen Kvaleid ◽  
Volkert Oosterlaak ◽  
Tor Kvillum
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Extreme Response ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Local Wave

For semi-submersible units, the magnitude of air gap or local wave impact in the survival condition is a key design driver. Linear analyses are widely used in the industry to predict survival air gap for semi-subs. Large relative motions, leading to large changes in shape of the submerged hull and large changes in water plane area make this approach questionable. In this paper, the GG5000 [1], a twin pontoon four legged semi-sub is considered. Both linear analyses and model tests had been performed, but the results were diverging. It was decided to investigate further, using non-linear hydrodynamic analyses. Initially, the model test setup is reproduced in the numerical model. The simulation model is verified for both response power spectra and extreme response distributions. In the non-linear simulations, the wetted surface of the hull is updated for each time step. Both excitation and restoring forces are based on the instantaneous wetted surface. This proves essential for the prediction of large motions. Later, the verified simulation model is run with realistic full scale setup including elastic catenary moorings with coupled cable dynamics, thruster assist, irregular waves and irregular wind. Highly non-linear effects proven to be vital to accurate air gap prediction are investigated and their representation in the non-linear analyses is validated against model tests.

A CFD Study of Focused Extreme Wave Impact on Decks of Offshore Structures

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Lu ◽  
Pankaj Kumar ◽  
Anand Bahuguni ◽  
Yanling Wu
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Linear Wave ◽  
Extreme Wave ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Loading Test ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Wave Maker

The design of offshore structures for extreme/abnormal waves assumes that there is sufficient air gap such that waves will not hit the platform deck. Due to inaccuracies in the predictions of extreme wave crests in addition to settlement or sea-level increases, the required air gap between the crest of the extreme wave and the deck is often inadequate in existing platforms and therefore wave-in-deck loads need to be considered when assessing the integrity of such platforms. The problem of wave-in-deck loading involves very complex physics and demands intensive study. In the Computational Fluid Mechanics (CFD) approach, two critical issues must be addressed, namely the efficient, realistic numerical wave maker and the accurate free surface capturing methodology. Most reported CFD research on wave-in-deck loads consider regular waves only, for instance the Stokes fifth-order waves. They are, however, recognized by designers as approximate approaches since “real world” sea states consist of random irregular waves. In our work, we report a recently developed focused extreme wave maker based on the NewWave theory. This model can better approximate the “real world” conditions, and is more efficient than conventional random wave makers. It is able to efficiently generate targeted waves at a prescribed time and location. The work is implemented and integrated with OpenFOAM, an open source platform that receives more and more attention in a wide range of industrial applications. We will describe the developed numerical method of predicting highly non-linear wave-in-deck loads in the time domain. The model’s capability is firstly demonstrated against 3D model testing experiments on a fixed block with various deck orientations under random waves. A detailed loading analysis is conducted and compared with available numerical and measurement data. It is then applied to an extreme wave loading test on a selected bridge with multiple under-deck girders. The waves are focused extreme irregular waves derived from NewWave theory and JONSWAP spectra.

Experimental Determination of Water Motions Inside a Moonpool

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastien Abeil
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Determination ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Side Wall ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Water Elevation

Model tests of a drillship with a rectangular moonpool opening were conducted in regular and irregular waves from the bow and bow-quarter. Most tests were conducted at zero speed, the rest was performed with the model towed to a speed of 10 kn. From the video-recordings and transfer functions of the measured relative water elevation inside the moonpool, the typical piston and first sloshing modes are well captured, for wave frequencies that agree relatively well with relevant formulations. A few tests conducted at varying wave amplitudes show that the water elevation is non-linear by nature, while repeat tests conducted with the moonpool fitted with two layers of side wall flanges shows that these can reduce the water motions by nearly 40 %.

Resonant Vibrations of Riser Guide Tubes Due to Wave Impact

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Nestega˚rd ◽  
Arve Johan Kalleklev ◽  
Kjell Hagatun ◽  
Yu Lin Wu ◽  
Sverre Haver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Ocean Basin ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Slender Body ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Resonant Vibrations ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Steep Waves

The Kristin platform is a catenary moored semi-submersible production vessel (SSPV) intended for production of gas at the Kristin field at Haltenbanken. Kristin has 24 riser guide tubes for tie in of flexible risers, umbilicals and electric cables to the riser balcony. The riser guide tubes (RGT) provide the necessary guiding, support and protection for risers and cables. The guide tubes run vertically from the deck and through the extended east pontoon. The guide tubes are welded to the pontoon and horizontally supported at the underside of the balcony deck. During model tests of the Kristin platform performed in the Ocean Basin laboratory at Marintek, high frequency in-line vibrations of the RGTs were observed during passage of steep waves. The resonance period for the individual RGTs is 0.3 sec. To mitigate the vibration problem, a vibration suppression arrangement of stiff rods was introduced between the guide tubes. Model tests were performed with respect to extreme- and fatigue loads in regular and irregular waves, with and without the suppression arrangement. The model included the floating framework representing the hull and the 24 RGTs with correct diameter and resonance period. The model was suspended in a horizontal mooring system, giving resonance periods in surge and sway close to the prototype platform. A load-response model for the interaction between large steep waves and vertical flexible cylinders has been developed. A slender body load model derived from Morison’s equation is shown to be able to excite the resonant vibrations. The dominant part of the loading comes from the rapid change of added mass momentum, giving rise to an additional slamming term in the load formulation. The structural response is calculated from a recognized non-linear slender body response program. Numerical simulations have been carried out and compared with model tests for both regular and irregular waves. The numerical predictions confirm the effect observed in the model tests; i.e. connecting the tubes generally leads to a reduction of the high frequency response amplitudes.

Experimental Study of Air Gap Response and Wave Impact Forces of a Semi-Submersible Drilling Unit

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeid Kazemi ◽  
Atilla Incecik
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Impact Forces ◽  
The Impact

An experimental study for predicting the air gap and potential deck impact of a floating offshore structure is the main topic of this research. Numerical modeling for air gap prediction is particularly complicated in the case of floating offshore structures because of their large volume, and the resulting effects of wave diffraction and radiation. Therefore, for new floating platforms, the model tests are often performed as part of their design process. This paper summarizes physical model tests conducted on a semi-submersible model, representing a 1-to-100 scale model of a GVA4000 class, “IRAN-ALBORZ”, the largest semi-submersible platform in the Caspian Sea, under construction in North of Iran, to evaluate the platform’s air gap at different locations of its deck and also measure the impact forces in case of having negative air gap. The model was tested in regular waves in the wave tank of Newcastle University. The paper discusses the experimental setup, test conditions, and the resulting measurements of the air gap and the wave impact forces by using eight wave probes and three load cells located at different points of the lower deck of the platform.

An Approach to Calculate the Probability of Wave Impact on an FPSO Bow

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Guedes Soares ◽  
R. Pascoal ◽  
E. M. Anta˜o ◽  
A. J. Voogt ◽  
B. Buchner
Keyword(s):  
Impact Load ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
Ship Motions ◽  
Linear Wave ◽  
Wave Steepness ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Local Wave ◽  
The Impact

This work aims at characterizing the probability of wave impact and expected impact load on the bow geometry of an FPSO. In order to determine the instants when impact occurs, an experimental program was performed on a specific bow shape. The bow was instrumented with pressure transducers and the test program, also making use of video recordings, was designed such that it was possible to determine the correlation between undisturbed wave shape and the impact pressure time traces. It has been found that wave impact at the bow is highly correlated with the local wave steepness, which for very high waves has at least second order effects. A comparison between the probability distributions of local wave steepness of the experimental undisturbed wave time trace and numerical simulations of second order wave theory is provided and it confirmed that the latter is very adequate for calculations. The experimental results were further used to determine how the probability of impact varies with free surface vertical velocity. It was found that the significant wave height of the sea state itself does not have significant influence on the result and a regression model is derived for that type of bow. The proposed model for determining the probability of impact load is based on combining both models. The analytical nature makes it fast and easy to expand to other cases of interest and some example calculations are shown to demonstrate the relative ease of the procedure proposed. The position of the impact is determined by the non-linear wave crests and the ship motions. The ship motions can be determined based on a linear response to the non-linear waves considered.

Green Water on FPSO Predicted by a Practical Engineering Method and Validated Against Model Test Data for Irregular Waves

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Vergara Schiller ◽  
Csaba Pâkozdi ◽  
Carl Trygve Stansberg ◽  
Douglas Gustavo Takashi Yuba ◽  
Daniel Fonseca de Carvalho e Silva
Keyword(s):  
Model Test ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Irregular Wave ◽  
Beam Seas ◽  
Practical Engineering ◽  
The University ◽  
Wave Induced

This paper presents a series of numerical analyses performed with the potential theory-based Green Water engineer tool KINEMA3. KINEMA3 was designed to predict wave-induced impact loads on FPSOs in steep irregular waves, and for use in design load analysis. The purpose of the study presented herein is to validate KINEMA3 green water (deck overtopping) predictions in nonlinear irregular waves with results from model tests performed at the TPN (Tanque de Provas Numérico) laboratory at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Comparisons are made for a selection of irregular wave cases, for two choices of anchoring conditions (free floating vessel and fixed vessel) and for three wave headings (180°, 225° and 270°: head, quartering and beam seas, respectively). KINEMA3 statistical green water predictions present a general good agreement with observations from the TPN model tests for all wave cases, headings and mooring conditions. Overall, observed trends for occurrence of green water and standard deviation/maximum of relative wave height are successfully reproduced by KINEMA3. In agreement with model test results, it is predicted that green water occurs more frequently for a free floating vessel and for beam seas. Additional comparisons between KINEMA3 predictions using different FPSO panel models (low-order and high-order models) present negligible differences with respect to green water estimates. The results presented herein demonstrate the robustness of the tool towards the prediction of green water for variable wave headings and sea states, and highlight the capability of KINEMA3 to be employed as an engineering-like tool for fast and multiple estimates of green water in early design studies. This work is a part of the research project “Green Water and Wave Impact on FPSO” carried out for and in cooperation with PETROBRAS.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigation of Wave-Induced Hydroelastic Vibrations of Trimaran in Oblique Irregular Waves

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyun Tang ◽  
Huilong Ren ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Qi Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Vibration ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Wave Condition ◽  
Strength Assessment ◽  
Irregular Wave ◽  
Hydroelastic Vibrations ◽  
Structural Parts ◽  
Wave Induced

The irregular wave condition, especially the oblique irregular wave condition, is the actual circumstances when trimaran is sailing in sea. In order to identify the characteristic of the wave-induced hydroelastic vibration in irregular waves, as well as investigate the change of vibration in different oblique irregular wave conditions, trimaran model tests were conducted to measure vibrations, wave impact, and motion under different azimuth and wave height. The vibration on main hull, side hull, and cross-desk is measured and analyzed separately to observe the influence of irregular wave in different structural parts. The longitudinal vibration, transverse vibration, and torsion are also included in the model tests measurement to investigate the relationship between these vibration deformation components and parameters of the irregular waves. The wave-induced hydroelastic vibrations and whipping effect is extracted and analyzed to find influence of whipping and springing on the total vibration. Based on the analysis, the dangerous positions and the critical waves condition is introduced to ensure that the subsequent structural strength assessment is more reliable.

Prediction of Ship Response Statistics in Extreme Seas Using Model Test Data and Numerical Simulations Based on the Rankine Panel Method

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingjie Guo ◽  
Elzbieta M. Bitner-Gregersen ◽  
Hui Sun ◽  
Jens Bloch Helmers
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Linear Codes ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Rogue Waves ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Panel Method ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Ship Motions ◽  
University Of Berlin ◽  
Non Linear

Earlier investigations have indicated that proper prediction of non-linear response due to non-linear waves is important for ship safety in extreme seas. Nonlinearities may increase significantly ship response in steep sea-states. The topic has not been sufficiently investigated yet, particularly when rogue waves are considered. A question remains whether the existing linear codes can predict nonlinear responses with a satisfactory accuracy and how large the deviations from linear predictions are. To indicate it, response statistics have been studied based on the model tests carried out in the Spanish basin CEHIPAR and the sea-keeping tank of the Technical University of Berlin (TUB), and compared with the results derived from numerical simulations using the DNV code WASIM. It is a potential code for wave-ship interaction based on 3D Panel method, which can perform both linear and nonlinear simulations. The numerical simulations with WASIM and the model tests including extreme and rogue waves have been performed on 3 different ship types: Chemical tanker, LNG tanker and a Cruise ship. The analysis includes both regular and irregular waves. Ship motions and bending moments have been studied. The effect of water depth on ship responses is also investigated. The study indicates that nonlinearities may have significant impact on extreme motions and bending moment induced by strongly nonlinear waves. Uncertainties related to the results are also discussed.

A Probability Distribution of Air-Gap and Wave Run-Up by Model Tests of a Horizontal Moored Semi-Submersible Platform

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fasuo Yan ◽  
Hui Yang ◽  
Pengfei Shen ◽  
Dagang Zhang ◽  
Liping Sun
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Treatment ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Sea Waves ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Irregular Wave ◽  
Fitting Procedure ◽  
Extreme Response ◽  
Run Up

Design of a floating structure is supposed to be based on the extreme responses experienced by the components of the structure during its lifetime. The airgap response and potential deck impact of ocean structures under sea waves is of considerable interest. Non-linear diffraction models are usually called for a more consistent evaluation of the wave field under the deck and the wave run-up upon the columns, but even second-order analysis is not free of uncertainties. Therefore, air gap evaluation still relies heavily on experimental analysis. This paper presents some deep-tank results performed for the evaluation of the dynamic airgap of a large-volume semisubmersible platform. A series of model tests were carried out for the scale model of a horizontal moored semi in regular and extreme irregular wave conditions. Airgap response combined with run-up close to columns at total 11 locations on the deck was evaluated under oblique wave status. Motions and elevation data are analyzed by statistical treatment. Weibull-tail fitting procedure is realized to determine the extreme response levels.

Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Air Gap Response and Wave-on-Deck Impact of Floating Offshore Structures

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeid Kazemi ◽  
Atilla Incecik
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Analysis ◽  
Impact Force ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Impact Prediction ◽  
Impact Forces ◽  
Wave Elevation ◽  
Local Wave ◽  
Air Gap Responses

A comparative study between the theoretical and experimental analysis of air gap response and potential wave-on-deck impact forces of floating offshore structures is the main topic of this study. Both motion of the platform and the local wave elevation are important in air gap responses and wave impact forces. So, accurate and efficient computational analysis of wave induced loads and resulting platform’s responses and wave elevation is important in the prediction of air gap and evaluation of possible wave impact force. Numerical modelling for air gap and wave impact prediction is particularly complicated in the case of floating offshore structures because of their large volume, and the resulting effects of wave diffraction and radiation. Therefore, for new floating platforms, the model tests are often performed as part of their design process. The overall aim of this study is to introduce a simplified numerical method with sufficient accuracy suitable for preliminary design stages of a floating offshore platform to predict the air gap response using hybrid method and to evaluate the vertical wave impact force using Wagner-based method. The results obtained from the proposed method have been compared with those obtained from the experiments carried out in the wave tank of the Newcastle University.

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