Low-cycle fatigue assessment of offshore mooring chains under service loading

The integrity of mooring chains is essential to the safety of a range of offshore platforms. However, mooring line failures are occurring earlier than their design lives, with a high number of these failures occurring due to fatigue. Early in the fatigue life of the component fatigue initiation processes occur, where the fatigue hotspot is sensitive to the mean load and there is plastic strain accumulation from the multiaxial stress-strain responses of the material, leading to cyclic plastic damage accumulation. The traditional SN approach suggested by mooring standards does not consider these effects, and it is proposed that this lack of consideration under low-cycle fatigue conditions is the reason for the current non-conservative fatigue assessments of mooring chains. This paper aims to develop a fatigue approach based on a critical plane multiaxial fatigue criterion for mooring chains that can consider the damage-induced by the cyclic plasticity and the mean load effect, to investigate the importance of incorporating low-cycle fatigue into the mooring chain life prediction. To develop the critical plane approach, the multiaxial stress-strain states are extracted for the critical plane at the fatigue hotspot from a finite element model of a mooring chain. This is then correlated with a fatigue life prediction provided by conventional fatigue design data. It uses a simulation of an FPSO as a case study to demonstrate the importance of low cycle fatigue, which shows that the mean load effect is significant in reducing the fatigue life for mooring chain applications, while the effect of fatigue damage-induced cyclic plasticity is limited. The fatigue damage accumulation predicted by the critical plane approach is significantly higher than that of the traditional SN approach and should be accounted for in mooring line design.     

深水悬链锚泊线疲劳性能评估

以某座Spar平台的单根锚泊线为对象进行疲劳性能研究,采用钢链-钢索-钢链三段组成的悬链式锚泊线.基于非线性有限元方法计算锚泊线的动力响应.选取锚泊线上端钢链与上部结构、钢索与钢链的链接点,采用雨流计数法对其应力时程曲线计数得到各短期海况下的疲劳荷载谱.根据Miner线性累计损伤理论,分别得到三个危险链接点在长期海况下的疲劳损伤,对锚泊线的疲劳性能进行评估.     

系泊布置设计中几个问题的讨论

针对船舶系泊过程中收放缆绳或系泊索时容易出现的问题,提出了解决思路和方法,供系泊布置设计参考。     

大潮差条件下浮式防波堤锚泊线组合形式的试验研究*

通过物理模型试验研究了在大潮差条件下不同锚泊线组合形式对浮箱式防波堤运动响应和锚链拉力特性的影 响。其中,锚泊系统布置形式采用平行型,组合形式有链+重块、链+重链、链+钢丝绳和链+尼龙绳4种。探讨了不同组合 形式的锚泊系统在大潮差条件下的优劣,给出一种比较适合大潮差的锚泊线组合形式,为实际工程提供参考。     

Remaining fatigue life assessment of corroded mooring chains using crack growth modelling

Failures caused by the combined actions of fatigue, corrosion and wear are important safety concerns for mooring chains used on floating structures in the oil and gas industry. Prediction of remaining corrosion fatigue life based on surface condition could therefore be a useful tool for the continued safe operation of corroded chains. This paper investigates the use of crack growth modelling for estimating the remaining corrosion fatigue life of mooring chains that exhibit significant pitting corrosion damage. A crack growth modelling approach is used to produce remaining fatigue life estimates for a selection of severely pitted mooring chains. Using fatigue crack growth rate test results for grade R4 high strength mooring chain steel, empirical crack growth laws are presented for free corrosion and cathodic protection conditions at load ratio R = 0.1. Two different methods for establishing equivalent cracks from surface scans of corrosion damage are presented. The mooring chains are proof loaded as part of their manufacturing process. Residual stresses introduced during this process have therefore been determined by finite element analysis and accounted for in the fatigue crack growth predictions. One of the equivalent crack models, accounting for the single dominant corrosion pit, provided quite accurate fatigue life predictions when compared with full scale test results.     

基于VB.NET和AutoCAD平台的船舶锚系自动布置辅助系统

船舶锚系设计是船舶设计的重要内容,船舶艏部线型一旦发生变化,锚系布置就要反复的进行校核和修正,工作效率低,有必要使用新的设计工具来辅助工作。在参考有关规范和文献的基础上,对船舶锚系自动布置优化设计进行了研究,基于VB.NET和AutoCAD平台,开发了船舶锚系自动布置辅助系统。系统建立了锚参数数据库,为船舶锚系布置设计提供了方便快捷的数据库平台,并用二维自动作图比较的方法实现了锚系布置中锚链筒最优位置的确定。     

Development of interlink wear estimation method for mooring chain of floating structures: Validation and new approach using three-dimensional contact response

Long-term operation of mooring systems is one of the challenging issues of floating structures such as floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). For integrity assessment, fatigue and its affecting factors have generated considerable recent research interest as the occurrence of a large number of mooring chain failures at a high rate has been reported. By contrast, only few studies on the effect of nonuniform volume loss of mooring chain links due to wear can be found because of difficulties to estimate wear amounts quantitatively. Considering this issue, in this paper, validation of the quantitative interlink wear estimation method is investigated by applying to a spar-type floating structure. Firstly, the method is presented which consists of the material test, derivation of an interlink wear estimation formula with FE analysis, and calculation of mooring chain response with coupled dynamic analysis using a mass-spring model. To improve insufficient accuracy due to the mass-spring model around a clump weight and the touchdown point, the method is further modified by using a 3-D rigid-body link model. The estimation results and comparison show that the modified method distinguishing between rolling and sliding can calculate the interlink wear amount closer to the chain diameter measurements and more reasonable than the method using the conventional mass-spring model.     

深海系缆动张力的超谐动力响应

文章考虑深水系缆的拉伸和弯曲变形,取正交坐标和切向量描述任意结点的6个广义位移,考虑缆变形的几何非线性和水动力影响,基于细长杆理论推导缆索的单元刚度矩阵,引入单元内张力一致假设,推导出12×12的非线性刚度矩阵,并与有限元软件对接。针对1800m水深平台的系缆,考虑系缆端点垂荡运动,以及端点垂荡、横荡和海流作用两种状态下系泊系统的动力响应。计算结果表明,端点运动和海流作用,引起系缆系统的二倍超谐动力响应,并且随着流速增大,系缆超谐动力响应增大,系缆的超谐动张力分量对于缆索疲劳累积损伤具有重要影响,在系缆疲劳分析时应该予以考虑。     

海上养殖平台系泊系统耦合动力响应与疲劳计算

以某管架式海上养殖平台为例,计算平台-系泊系统耦合时域动力响应与系泊系统疲劳寿命,分析锚链拉力统计特性、平台运动规律、疲劳损伤成分比例等因素的影响。研究发现系泊系统动力响应具有明显的非线性特征,定常漂移力对本平台系泊系统极限载荷有重要影响,而波频振荡是产生疲劳损伤的主要因素。计算结果表明,系泊缆能够有效限制平台运动,且疲劳寿命满足设计要求,可为类似平台的设计和安全性评估提供参考。     

系泊系统对波能发电装置动力响应的影响

[目的]为了设计造价合理、性能高效的系泊系统,研究不同系泊系统对波能发电装置(WEC)的能量摄取(PTO)能力和定位性能的影响.[方法]选择一典型的两刚体点吸式WEC装置为研究对象,采用WEC-Sim和MoorDyn开源代码设计两类系泊系统,一类采用锚链,另一类采用锚链和聚酯缆绳所组成的混合缆.通过对这两类系泊系统进行...     

Selection of appropriate numerical models for modelling the stresses in mooring chains

Mooring chains are key components for floating platforms. The failure of these components can be catastrophic in terms of the economic and environmental impacts, especially when dealing with the potential failure of FPSOs. However, mooring failures have been regularly occurring much earlier in their service lives than expected, with almost 50% of the reported failures happening in the first 3 years of 20-year design lives. Although the operating stresses play a major role in determining the failure mechanisms of mooring chains, the methods of predicting the operating stresses in mooring chains vary in the openly available literature, and the accuracy of these different numerical methods for predicting types of mooring failures is unknown. There is currently little evidence provided for when one model is appropriate for a particular scenario. Therefore, this paper benchmarks the different available methods for modelling mooring chains under tension, including FE models found in the literature. These models are calibrated and verified against previous studies and compared with experiments and a developed FE explicit model. There is a significant difference in the way that the numerical models behave, which are discussed in terms of their applicability and limitations in modelling mooring chains. The results of this study show that the explicit modelling approach should be utilised for accurate assessment of mooring lines, as it provides the most realistic response, with a substantial reduction in the computational cost and without any convergence problems.     

西非海域FPSO多点系泊系统的疲劳寿命分析

文章首先采用三维频域理论分析西非海域FPSO的水动力性能,得到船体各自由度的运动响应,慢漂载荷,附加质量和势流阻尼等;随后,利用分块法将波浪散点图离散为若干个海况,基于准动态方法对多点系泊系统进行分析,得到各海况下船体的漂移和各系泊缆的张力;最后,结合前两步的计算结果,采用T-N曲线,雨流计数和Miner线性累计损伤理论对系泊缆的疲劳寿命进行预报。研究结果表明,各系泊缆的疲劳寿命沿长度方向的分布趋势基本一致,锚链顶端和触底部分的疲劳寿命较短。此外,西非海域的涌浪对系泊缆的疲劳损伤较大,系泊设计时应予以重点关注。     

半潜平台结构疲劳寿命评估方法比较

为了研究各种疲劳评估方法对海洋结构物疲劳寿命评估结果的影响,利用S-N曲线方法和断裂力学方法分别计算了半潜式海洋平台的疲劳寿命,分析比较了二者计算结果的差别.同时比较了疲劳载荷预报中谱分析方法和设计波法的计算结果,分析研究半潜式海洋平台结构关键节点疲劳应力计算中设计波和载荷参数的确定方法,为半潜式海洋平台的疲劳寿命评估提供依据.经过比较分析,认为S-N曲线方法和断裂力学方法应用于评估海洋结构物疲劳寿命均是可行的,使用设计波法来计算半潜式海洋平台横撑与立柱交点处结构疲劳寿命时应该以60°浪向的横向扭矩为特征设计波浪载荷来决定设计波参数比较合理.     

Numerical investigation of mooring line damping and the drag coefficients of studless chain links

The chain/wire rope/chain combination is a commonchoice for mooring offshore floating platforms. However, data ofthe drag coefficients of chain links are rather limited, resulting inuncertainties with the calculations of the drag force, and hence thedamping of the mooring system. In this paper, the importance of theselection of the drag coefficient is first investigated. Thecomputational fluid dynamics （CFD） method is then used todetermine the drag coefficients of a studless chain under steadyflows. Numerical model validation is first completed by simulatinga smooth circular cylinder under steady flows. In particular, theperformance of different turbulence models is assessed through thecomparisons between the calculations and the experimental results.The large eddy simulation （LES） model is finally selected for thesimulation of steady flows past a chain. The effects of the Reynoldsnumber on the drag coefficient of a stud-less chain is also studied.The results show that the calculated drag coefficients of a stud-lesschain are fairly consistent with the available experimental data.     

单点系泊系统将军柱疲劳分析

渤海某FPSO的单点系泊装置固定塔架由导管架、将军柱和上部组块构成,其中将军柱是系泊力的主要承受构件之一,其结构安全至关重要。由于系泊力是典型的交变载荷,作用在结构上会产生疲劳损伤,因此有必要对将军柱进行在位期间的疲劳分析。本文提出一种长期海况下海上固定装置疲劳计算方法,通过AQWA软件建立单点系泊系统的多体耦合水动力模型模型,根据渤海的海况环境资料计算出FPSO运动时域内所受到的的系泊力;基于S-N曲线方法与Miner线性累计损伤理论,通过nCode Designlife疲劳计算软件计算将军柱结构的疲劳寿命和管节点的疲劳损伤;评估结构的疲劳强度,分析易发生疲劳的关键节点位置,并给出增加管节点疲劳寿命的建议及设计方法,为相同类型的海上固定式结构物的结构设计及疲劳分析提供有益的参考及借鉴。     

船行波对双船系靠LNG泊位系泊稳定性的影响

双船系靠LNG泊位对系泊稳定性要求高,而目前尚无船行波对双船系靠泊稳定性影响的定量分析方法。结合工程实例,以Flory-Remery单船系泊船行波荷载计算方法为基础,结合双船系靠泊位的特点予以修正,利用数值分析软件定量分析船行波过程对双船系靠泊位系泊稳定性的动态影响。结果表明,典型系泊条件下,双船系靠泊位系泊倒缆受力及纵移运动量受船行波影响最大,当船行波与系泊船间距50 m时系泊稳定性不满足要求;当船行波与系泊船间距100 m时系泊稳定性满足要求;当船行波与系泊船间距150 m时系泊稳定性基本不受船行波影响。     

海洋潜标系统布放动力学分析

布放是浮标系统投入使用前的一个关键的作业过程。研究海洋潜标系统布放过程中的水动力特性,对安全顺利地实现布放有重要的意义。考虑海洋潜标系统各部分的水动力作用和系留索的弹性变形,通过时域模拟海洋潜标系统在500m水深海域的采用浮标先行投放法的布放过程,计算了海洋潜标系统布放过程中的动态响应,并分析了波高、作业船速度和系留索弯曲刚度对布放的影响。得到的结果表明：锚位会滞后于锚投放点;系留索曲率和有效张力的最值都出现在缆索与锚的连接段;锚触底时缆索瞬时张力达到峰值;系留索的弯曲刚度是影响布放的重要因素,随着弯曲刚度增大,锚位明显前移,系留索的有效张力峰值和曲率都会降低;波高和作业船速度的改变对于浮标系统布放的动态响应的影响幅度很小。     

基于拖曳锚轨迹方程的拖曳锚系泊优化分析

拖曳锚系泊作为目前海洋工程使用最为广泛的系泊方式，因其较低的制造和安装成本使其成为小型浮式平台系泊方式的首选。目前拖曳式系泊设计大多根据以往工程经验进行选择设计，由于经验设计中并没过多的泥面表面及以下锚链安装信息，因此在设计之初很难对系泊材料用量准确计算。不同重量的拖曳锚在同样的嵌深和同样的锚倾角条件下，所能提供的系泊力大不相同。同时，不同重量的拖曳锚的在相同土壤条件下拖曳嵌入轨迹不同，因而最大埋深不同。上述两方面原因导致不同重量的拖曳锚提供的系泊力不一样。因此，需要达到同样的系泊效果，泥线以下反悬链线和卧底链的长度在不同重量锚的系泊系统中是不同的。参照系泊成本各个分项在其生命周期各阶段的占比，材料制造成本与安装成本占据系泊成本的大部分，且安装成本往往正比于材料成本。因此降低系泊锚链的材料成本对整个系泊系统的成本降低起到了巨大的优化作用。通过结合拖曳锚的极限平衡法拖曳轨迹理论方程，以不同重量的拖曳锚在粘性土壤中的不同拖曳距离下提供额定系泊力时所需要的材料重量为系泊成本评价依据，从而得到浮式结构物系泊系统的一种设计优化方法。     

Analysis of S–N data for new and corroded mooring chains at varying mean load levels using a hierarchical linear model

Results from full scale fatigue tests of offshore mooring chains are analyzed. The data set includes new and used chains, tested at a variety of mean load levels. The used chains have been retrieved after operation offshore and include samples with varying surface conditions, ranging from as-new to heavily corroded. Based on a parameterized S–N curve intercept parameter, the effects of mean load and chain condition are estimated empirically by regression analysis. A hierarchical linear model is used, to account for and quantify correlations within subsets of the data. The choice of grouping criterion for the hierarchical model is discussed, and assessed based on the current data. Results show that the mean load and corrosion effects are both significant. Differences in the fatigue performance of new versus used chains are quantified and discussed.     

钢管桁架结构在系缆力作用下的疲劳寿命分析

外海开敞大型原油码头系缆墩采用全钢钢管桁架结构时,利用计算系缆力研究其疲劳寿命,往往使计算疲劳寿命偏短,与实际情况偏离较大。目前对实测系缆力的分析研究较少,无规律可循。对日照港岚山港区30万吨级原油码头扩建工程的实测系缆力数据进行分析研究,找出系缆力的分布规律,并根据系缆力的概率分布分析系缆墩管节点的疲劳损伤。分析结果表明：结构疲劳损伤最大的为中层管节点,系缆力对系缆墩疲劳损伤影响较小,仅为10-4数量级。