On the hydroelastic responses of a very large floating structure in waves

New numerical methods are presented for hydroelastic analyses of a very large floating structure (VLFS) of several kilometers length and width. Several methods are presented that accelerate computation without an appreciable loss of accuracy. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed methods are validated through comparisons with other numerical results as well as with existing experimental results. After confirming the effectiveness of the methods presented, various characteristics of the hydroelastic behavior of VLFSs are examined, using the proposed methods as numerical tools. Received for publication on Dec. 3, 1999; accepted on Dec. 15, 1999     

随机波浪载荷作用下导管架平台动力响应及疲劳可靠性分析

主要针对波浪载荷作用下导管架式海洋平台结构的疲劳可靠性进行研究.采用Airy线性波浪理论,将导管架结构离散成空间梁有限单元结构;在此基础上采用结构模态分析方法,编程计算了平台结构在随机波浪载荷作用下的位移、速度、加速度和应力随机响应及其概率统计量.导管架结构疲劳可靠性分析建立在频域响应的基础上,假设结构响应的应力范围服从Rayleigh分布,利用结构应力传递函数得到结构应力响应谱,然后利用Miner线性累积损伤准则推导出结构疲劳寿命的概率分布函数,并考虑结构疲劳强度影响系数的随机性,求得结构在随机应力谱下给定疲劳寿命时的疲劳可靠性指标.文中所建立方法可用于导管架式平台结构的疲劳安全评估.     

基于浮体Morison方程的半潜式超大型浮式结构波浪力简化计算方法

研究了半潜式超大型浮式结构中移动式海上基地（MOB）在高海况随机波作用下波浪力的简化计算方法。文中基于修正后的浮体Morison方程,经理论推导得出了MOB结构波浪力的计算公式。以MOB结构“三模块模型”为例,研究其在6级海况条件下基于Bretschneider谱模拟的随机不规则波中浪向角变化在0°~90°范围内,各模块的波浪力-历时规律,将本文简化算法的计算结果统计值与势流理论的结果相互对比,并对二者进行误差分析。结果表明：运用本文简化算法得到的MOB波浪力统计结果与势流理论的结果吻合程度高,且二者之间的相对误差在工程允许的范围之内,可充分验证本文方法的正确性、合理性与可行性。本文算法相比于势流理论而言更加简单,建议在结构初步设计阶段运用该方法可高效地评估大量不同工况下MOB结构的波浪荷载,研究成果可为半潜式超大型浮式结构动力响应研究奠定基础。     

A B-spline Galerkin scheme for calculating the hydroelastic response of a very large floating structure in waves

This paper presents an effective scheme for computing the wave-induced hydroelastic response of a very large floating structure, and a validation of its usefulness. The calculation scheme developed is based on the pressure-distribution method of expressing the disturbance caused by a structure, and on the mode-expansion method for hydroelastic deflection with the superposition of orthogonal mode functions. The scheme uses bi-cubic B-spline functions to represent unknown pressures, and the Galerkin method to satisfy the body boundary conditions. Various numerical checks confirm that the computed results are extremely accurate, require relatively little computational time, and contain few unknowns, even in the region of very short wavelengths. Measurements of the vertical deflections in both head and oblique waves of relatively long wavelength are in good agreement with the computed results. Numerical examples using shorter wavelengths reveal that the hydroelastic deflection does not necessarily become negligible as the wavelength of incident waves decreases. The effects of finite water depth and incident wave angle are also discussed.     

Simplified analysis for estimation of the behavior of a submerged floating tunnel in waves and experimental verification

To achieve rational design in waves for a submerged floating tunnel which has emerged as a new offshore transportation infrastructure, it's necessary to understand its hydrodynamic behavior. For simple but accurate estimation of hydrodynamic forces, a theoretical method is proposed and the tests with physical models in a wave flume were carried out for verification. Morison's equation was used to estimate wave loads composed of inertia force and drag force. Forces calculated by applying the linear wave theory to Morison's equation coincided well with those measured by the tests. The test results showed that mooring systems played a significant role in the movement of the submerged floating tunnel in waves. A pendulum model could be used to describe the motion of the submerged floating tunnel with a single vertical mooring. Based on the verified relations, a simple slack condition which causes the submerged floating tunnel to be unstable was also proposed. The simplified approach proposed by this study proved to be useful in designing the submerged floating tunnel in the initial stage.     

考虑腐蚀影响的船舶结构可靠性研究现状与展望

对近年来考虑腐蚀影响的船舶结构可靠性计算各主要研究层面的研究现状做了介绍与评述.通过这一综述可以发现:此领域研究工作重心已由考虑线性、非线性均匀腐蚀的影响逐步向局部腐蚀尤其是点腐蚀方向转变.今后的研究重点为以下三个方面,即:①发展符合基本腐蚀机理、与实测腐蚀数据较为吻合的点腐蚀多指标模型;②确定蚀点几何参数在各类荷载条件下对构件强度的影响;③深入评估腐蚀与疲劳的相互作用对结构可靠性计算的影响.     

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.     

Methodology for global structural load effect analysis of the semi-submersible hull of floating wind turbines under still water,wind, and wave loads

In designing the support structures of floating wind turbines (FWTs), a key challenge is to determine the load effects (at the cross-sectional load and stress level). This is because FWTs are subjected to complex global, local, static, and dynamic loads in stochastic environmental conditions. Up to now, most of the studies of FWTs have focused on the dynamic motion characteristics of FWTs, while minimal research has touched upon the internal load effects of the support structure. However, a good understanding of the structural load effects is essential since it is the basis for achieving a good design. Motivated by the situation, this study deals with the global load effect analysis for FWT support structures. A semi-submersible hull of a 10-MW FWT is used in the case study. A novel analysis method is employed to obtain the time-domain internal load effects of the floater, which account for the static and dynamic global loads under the still water, wind, and wave loads and associated motions. The investigation of the internal stresses resulting from various global loads under operational and parked conditions and the dynamic behavior of the structural load effects in various environmental conditions are made. The dominating load components for structural responses of the semi-submersible floater and the significant dynamic characteristics under different wind and wave conditions are identified. The dynamic load effects of the floating support structure are investigated by considering the influence of the second-order wave loads, viscous drag loads induced global motions, and wind and wave misalignments. The main results are discussed, and the main findings are summarized. The insights gained provide a basis for improving the design and analysis of FWT support structures.     

活动甲板室锁紧系统的设计与结构强度分析

针对使用气动减振装置的活动甲板室,提出一种航行锁紧系统的设计,用于大风浪或者航行状态下将活动甲板室与主船体进行刚性连接。结合一条使用该航行锁紧系统的大型自航绞吸挖泥船,阐述该锁紧系统的结构形式和工作方式等内容,并且对该系统各组成结构所承受的载荷进行分析,基于此对相应结构的强度进行有限元分析,证明该系统结构强度可以满足设计要求。研究结果对采用类似方法将甲板室与主船体进行连接的船舶设计工作具有一定参考价值,也为一些船型的开发提供新的思路。     

Reliability analysis of a bulk carrier in ultimate limit state under combined global and local loads in the hogging and alternate hold loading condition

The alternate hold still-water loading in hogging combined with wave loading is critical for the safe design of bulk carriers. The ultimate longitudinal strength of the hull girder of bulk carriers in this condition has been found to be considerably reduced by the action of local lateral pressure loads. In the present paper, an interaction equation based on the ultimate hull girder strength assessment obtained by nonlinear finite element analyses is adopted to consider the relationship between ultimate longitudinal bending capacity and average external sea pressure over the bottom. This interaction equation is used as the basis for the failure function. The annual probability of failure is obtained by FORM analysis considering two typical load cases, namely, pure longitudinal hogging bending moment and combined global hogging bending moment and local lateral pressure loads. The effect of heavy weather avoidance on the failure probability is evaluated. The results show that the local lateral pressure has a significant influence on the annual probability of failure of bulk carriers in the hogging and alternate hold loading condition.