Time-domain numerical and experimental analysis of hydroelastic response of a very large floating structure edged with a pair of submerged horizontal plates

This paper is concerned with the hydroelastic problem of a pontoon-type, very large floating structure (VLFS) edged with the perforated plates, non-perforated plates or their combination anti-motion device both numerically and experimentally. A direct time domain modal expansion method, taking amount of the time domain Kelvin sources in hydrodynamic forces, in which the fluid flows across the perforated anti-motion plate by applying the Darcy's law, is applied to the fluid–structure interaction problem. A quarter of numerical model is built based on the symmetry of flow field and structure in hydrodynamic forces, and special care is paid to the rapid and accurate evaluation of time domain free-surface Green functions and its spatial derivatives in finite water depth by using interpolation–tabulation method. Using the developed numerical tools and the model tests conducted in a wave basin, the response-reduction efficiency of the perforated plates is systematically assessed for various wave and anti-motion plate parameters, such as plate width, porosity and submergence depth. As a result of the parametric study, the porosity 0.11 is selected as the optimal porosity, and the relationship between the porosity and the porous parameter is developed by using the least-squares fitting scheme. After simulation and verification, the dual anti-motion plates which are the perforated-impermeable-plate combination attached to the fore-end and back-end of the VLFS, are designed for more wave energy dissipation and added damping. Considering variation of the water depths in offshore, discussion on the effectiveness of these anti-motion devices at different water depths is highlighted.     

Design,modelling, and analysis of a large floating dock for spar floating wind turbine installation

Installation of floating wind turbines at the offshore site is a challenging task. A significant part of the time efficiency and costs are related to the installation methods which are sensitive to weather conditions. This study investigates a large floating dock concept, which can be used to shield a floating wind turbine during installation of tower, nacelle, and rotor onto a spar foundation. In this paper, the concept is described in detail, and a design optimisation is carried out using simple design constraints. Hydrodynamic analysis and dynamic response analysis of the coupled system of the optimum dock and spar are conducted. Two spars of different sizes are considered, and the motion responses of the spars with and without the dock in irregular waves are compared. Through analysis of the motion spectra and response statistics, dynamic characteristics of the coupled system is revealed. The present design of the dock reduces the platform-pitch responses of the spars and potentially facilitates blade mating, but may deteriorate the heave velocity of the spars in swell conditions. Finally, future design aspects of the floating dock are discussed.     

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     

A consideration of the structural design of a large-scale floating structure

The land area of Japan, especially flat land, is very small compared with its economic size. Large-scale floating structures are one solution to satisfy the demand for space by utilizing the ocean. This paper presents a general view of the dynamic response characteristics of large-scale floating structures, pontoons and semi-submersibles. For example, it is shown that the natural frequencies of eigenmodes are higher than the natural frequency of heaving motion. The response of the outer framework of a structure is shown to be generally larger than the response of the central part. Within the limits of our present understanding of the general dynamic response characteristics of such structures, the design and analysis of semi-submersible, large-scale floating structures is discussed. For a pontoon-type large-scale floating structure, a type whose perimeter structure has been modified to become lighter and more rigid is proposed. With this modification, the dynamic response of the whole structure is imporved.     

On maximum forces exerted by floating ice on a structure due to constrained thermal expansion of ice

The problem of interaction between a floating ice cover and an engineering structure is considered, in which the ice–structure contact forces are caused by an increase in ice temperature due to solar radiation in situations, when the lateral thermal expansion of ice is constrained. The focus is on the determination of the maximum thermally-induced horizontal force exerted on a structure wall, assuming that the magnitude of this force is bound by the smallest force capable of fracturing the ice cover due to its buckling. The ice cover is modelled as a rectangular plate of uniform thickness, with its four edges being constrained by vertical rigid walls, and it is assumed that ice deforms, and eventually fails, by the mechanism of viscous creep buckling. The plate is subjected to in-plane axial compressive stresses developing in ice to prevent its thermal expansion due to solar heating, and is transversely (vertically) bent by the forces caused by the reaction of underlying water. The floating ice is treated as a material whose elastic and viscous properties depend on temperature and the ice porosity, and therefore they vary with time and the depth of ice. The results of numerical simulations, conducted for a variety of the ice plate horizontal dimensions, thicknesses and daytime temperature-change scenarios, illustrate the evolution of the plate deflection surface prior to its failure, and show the time variation of the maximum forces exerted by ice on a structure wall as functions of the ice thickness and maximum daytime temperature rise at the top surface of ice.     

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.     

A time-domain mode-expansion method for calculating transient elastic responses of a pontoon-type VLFS

A time-domain calculation method is described for elastic responses to arbitrary time-dependent external loads, on the basis of a general differential equation of second order including the convolution integral related to memory effects in the hydrodynamic forces. The time-dependent elastic deflection of a structure is represented by a superposition of mathematical modal functions, and a Galerkin scheme is employed to obtain a linear system of simultaneous differential equations for the amplitude of modal functions assumed. Special care is paid to numerical accuracy in computing the memory-effect function and the added mass at infinite frequency. The validity of the numerical results was confirmed through a comparison with time histories of the vertical deflection measured in an impulsive weight-drop test conducted at the Ship Research Institute and a comparison with existing numerical results for the same problem. To check the necessity of memory-effect terms, computations using a constant value for the hydrodynamic damping coefficient were also performed, and practical measures for reducing the computation time are discussed. Received: April 12, 2000 / Accepted: August 24, 2000     

Transient responses of a VLFS during landing and take-off of an airplane

The transient elastic deformation of a pontoon-type very large floating structure (VLFS) caused by the landing and take-off of an airplane is computed by the time-domain mode-expansion method. The memory effects in hydrodynamic forces are taken into account, and great care is paid to numerical accuracy in evaluating all the coefficients appearing in the simultaneous differential equations for the elastic motion of a VLFS. The time-histories of the imparted force and the position and velocity of an airplane during landing and take-off are modeled with data from a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet. Simulation results are shown of 3-D structural waves on a VLFS and the associated unsteady drag force on an airplane, which is of engineering importance, particularly during take-off. The results for landing show that the airplane moves faster than the structural waves generated in the early stage, and the waves overtake the airplane as its speed decreases to zero. The results for take-off are essentially the same as those for landing, except that the structural waves develop slowly in the early stage, and no obstacle exists on the runway after the take-off of airplane. The additional drag force on an airplane due to the elastic responses of the runway considered in this work was found to be small in magnitude.     

单柱式浮式风力机动力响应数值与试验分析

以200 m作业水深的5 MW OC3单柱式浮式风力机为研究对象,采用FAST程序对其在不同海况下的运动进行全耦合时历数值计算,并与采用1∶50缩尺比模型试验所得时历结果进行对比,通过时域以及频域方法对平台主要自由度运动以及系泊拉力进行分析。研究发现:垂向运动带来的自由面记忆效应较纵向和横向小;悬链线式模型所能提供的系泊拉力较张紧式系泊提供的拉力小;风浪联合作用下,风载荷主要激励低频固有频率运动,波浪载荷则主要激励波频运动;平台纵荡和纵摇运动受系泊系统的影响较大,而垂荡运动则不受系泊系统的影响。     

Hydroelastic analysis of oblique irregular waves with a pontoon-type VLFS edged with dual inclined perforated plates

The fluid-structure interaction of oblique irregular waves with a pontoon-type very large floating structure (VLFS) edged with dual horizontal/inclined perforated plates has been investigated in the context of the direct time domain modal expansion theory. For the hydroelastic analysis, the boundary element method (BEM) based on time domain Kelvin sources is implemented to establish water wave model including the viscous effect of the perforated plates through the Darcy’s law, and the finite element method (FEM) is adopted for solving the deflections of the VLFS modeled as an equivalent Mindlin thick plate. In order to enhance the computing efficiency, the interpolation-tabulation scheme is applied to assess rapidly and accurately the free-surface Green function and its partial derivatives in finite water depth, and the boundary integral equation of a half or quarter VLFS model is further established taking advantage of symmetry of flow field and structure. Also, the numerical solutions are validated against a series of experimental tests. In the comparison, the empirical relationship between the actual porosity and porous parameter is successfully applied. Numerical solutions and model tests are executed to determine the hydroelastic response characteristics of VLFS with an attached anti-motion device. This study examines the effects of porosity, submerged depth, inclined angle and gap distance of such dual perforated anti-motion plates on the hydroelastic response to provide information regarding the optimal design. The effects of oblique wave angle on the performance of anti-motion and hydroelastic behavior of VLFS are also emphatically examined.     

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.     

滑行艇尾部结构的模态分析和响应预报

针对某滑行艇尾部结构振动问题,建立尾部结构三维有限元模型,应用MSC.Patran/Nastran软件对其进行模态分析和响应预报。其中,采用虚拟质量法模拟流体与结构相互作用来计算附连水质量;运用瞬态响应分析方法计算螺旋桨脉动压力引起的尾部结构振动响应。通过分析获得该艇尾部结构的振动特性,为结构减振设计提供依据。     

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.     

Numerical calculation method for the hydroelastic response of a pontoon-type very large floating structure close to a breakwater

This paper presents an effective scheme for calculating the wave-induced hydroelastic response of a pontoon-type very large floating structure (VLFS) when it is near a breakwater. The basic numerical calculation method is the one previously developed by the same author for a VLFS in the open sea (no breakwater), which is expanded to include the effect of the hydrodynamic mutual interaction between the breakwater and the floating structure. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method are validated through comparisons with other numerical results and with existing experimental results. After that confirmation, various numerical calculations were conducted, paying special attention to the resonance phenomena which will occur depending on the relation between the wavelength and the clearance between the breakwater and the floating structure. The irregular frequency phenomenon which appears in the calculation of the fluid dynamic problem is discussed in the appendices, including a method for its elimination. Received: October 31, 2000 / Accepted: December 19, 2000     

Investigation of the condition and the behavior of a modular floating structure by harnessing monitoring data

In this paper, the condition and the behavior of an installed and operating Modular Floating Structure (MFS) is investigated and assessed by harnessing field monitoring data and using collectively multiple Correlation Coefficients (CCs) between measured quantities. The examined MFS consists of five pairs of interconnected floating concrete modules and it functions as a floating breakwater. The field monitoring data are acquired through a sensor network deployed on one pair of modules (connected through two groups of connectors) of the MFS. A methodological data processing framework for data organization, manipulation and post-processing is developed and presented. This framework enables the quantification of the structure's condition at different time periods through the calculation of CCs: (a) between the incident wave height and the tensions of the mooring lines and (b) between the tensions of the mooring lines, considering various wave directions. Recorded data at three characteristic time periods during the structure's lifetime are used, namely: (i) before any failure (structure's initial condition), (ii) after the failure of the first connectors' group and (iii) after the failure of the second connectors' group. The data processing framework developed in the present paper is applied to the above recorded data in order to calculate CCs and, therefore, quantify the structure's condition, at the three aforementioned time periods. The quantification of the structure's initial condition resulted to conclusions that were consistent from a physical point of view with the most recently documented, available in-situ mapping of the mooring lines' configuration in the horizontal plane. By considering the structure's initial condition as a reference base for comparison, the effect of the connectors' failure on the CCs, used to quantify this condition, was also investigated and efficiently assessed. Specifically, the significant changes observed in the variation patterns of all examined CCs, when compared with their respective patterns corresponding to the structure's initial condition, demonstrated and confirmed the existence of significant reformation of the examined structural system resulting from the connectors' failure. In this way, the effectiveness of the joint utilization of CCs to assess the structure's condition was proved.     

海上风机支撑结构的时域和频域疲劳对比研究

对海上风机支撑结构进行动力响应分析,求出结构危险节点的载荷谱和功率谱密度函数,结合疲劳损伤模型和Dirlik概率模型,分别在时域和频域内对支撑结构进行疲劳寿命分析.由于时域法计算疲劳寿命需进行应力循环计数,这一过程需处理的数据庞大,耗时长.频域法省去应力循环计数,代之以概率密度函数,可相对准确、快速地计算结构的疲劳寿命.分析结果表明,采用Dirlik概率模型的频域分析法能较准确地反映海上风机支撑结构在随机载荷作用下的疲劳损伤情况,计算结果误差在可接受范围内.     

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.     

Simplified estimation for the dynamic behavior and reliability analysis of very large floating structures under wave-induced loads

This paper deals with the dynamic response and strength of very large floating structures (VLFS) in regular and irregular waves, considering the propagation of the hydroelastic deflection wave of the structure. First, a simplified estimation method is presented for the dynamic response and strength of the structure in regular waves. Then, the validity of the method is demonstrated by comparing its results with analytical results and experimental results for a mat-type floating structure model. Next, a simplified estimation method for dynamic responses under long crested irregular wave conditions is presented by using the above results and by combining them with irregular sea wave spectra. Finally, the applicability of the method is investigated through numerical examples carried out for a 4,800-m class VLFS under trial design. Characteristics of the hydroelastic waves, short-term responses, and reliability levels are numerically identified. Received for publication on April 14, 1999; accepted on Sept. 10, 1999     

多浮体耦合的长大过江弯管系统沉放过程动力响应数值仿真分析

过江管道在沉放过程中的动力响应直接影响管道的水下定位、沉放安全性及稳定性等,研究沉放过程中过江管道沉放过程水动力行为具有重要工程价值,可以降低施工风险、提高工程安全可靠性。以南宁市邕江过江管道工程水上施工过程为研究背景,对长大弯曲型管道沉放过程中多个浮体之间的复杂耦合作用、整体沉放系统复杂的动力特性进行了研究。研究应用非线性时域动力分析方法、莫里森水动力理论、水动力多体耦合理论、长大弯管理论等,借助OrcaFlex软件,建立了考虑多体耦合的长大弯曲型过江管道沉放过程水动力数值仿真分析模型。基于数值仿真模型,运用全耦合方法,进行系统时域仿真计算分析,获取了计算工况下沉管过程管道的动力响应和锚索及吊缆的受力时域图像。对影响沉放过程动力表现的关键施工变量,如气囊放气和管道下放的配合、气囊放气时间、吊缆预张力等进行了参数敏感性分析,根据数值模拟结果提出了施工安全性控制技术及施工建议。     

大型高桩梁板式码头数模计算与物模试验比较分析

物理模型试验一直是解决新型结构或复杂课题的重要手段,数学模型技术与计算机技术的结合是解决工程问题的有效方法。采用物理模型试验和数学模型计算相结合的方法来分析某大型高桩梁板式结构,该结构特点是长桩、深梁、大跨度、大荷载。通过比较分析,发现数学模型计算和物理模型试验数据基本吻合,从而确保了码头结构设计的可靠性,并进一步丰富和完善了码头结构试验和计算手段。