scholarly journals Macro-element modelling of suction-embedded plate anchors for floating offshore structures

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 16009
Author(s):  
Anderson Peccin Da Silva ◽  
Andrea Diambra ◽  
Dimitris Karamitros

This work presents a new macro-element model to predict the behaviour of Suction Embedded Plate Anchors (SEPLAs) for floating offshore structures during keying and loading stages. Differently from previously published models for anchors, this new model is characterised by (i) a non-associated plastic potential with the aim of improving the prediction of anchor trajectory for the whole displacement domain and for a large range of padeye offsets; and (ii) by a strain-hardening rule enabling to predict the force and displacement mobilisation from the early stages of the keying process. The model was calibrated against LDFE analyses and compared with a broad set of LDFE and centrifuge tests results. The model proves capable of reproducing anchor rotation and displacement with good accuracy for a wide range of padeye offsets and distinct studies from the literature.

Author(s):  
Anderson Peccin da Silva ◽  
Andrea Diambra ◽  
Dimitrios K. Karamitros ◽  
Shiao Huey Chow

This work proposes a new plastic hardening, non-associative macro-element model to predict the behaviour of anchors in clay for floating offshore structures during keying and up to the peak load. Building on available models for anchors, a non-associated plastic potential is introduced to improve prediction of anchor trajectory and loss of embedment at peak conditions for a large range of padeye offsets and different pull-out directions. The proposed model also includes a displacement-hardening rule to simulate the force and displacement mobilisation at the early stages of the keying process. The model is challenged and validated against different sets of numerical and centrifuge data. This extensive validation process revealed that two of the four newly introduced model parameters assume a constant value for the range of simulated cases. This suggests that only two of the newly introduced parameters may need to be calibrated for the use of the proposed macro-element model in practice.


Author(s):  
Mohamed I. Ramadan ◽  
Stephen D. Butt ◽  
Radu Popescu

Offshore anchor piles are usually loaded at a padeye on pile surface. The padeye depth can be at the seabed or below it. Using a padeye below the seabed is widely used in case of suction caissons. However, anchor piles are more flexible and the mode of failure will be different from that for suction caissons. In the current parametric study, the effect of padeye depth on the behavior of offshore anchor pile subjected to mooring forces in dense sand was studied. Finite Element Model (FEM) had been established. The model had been calibrated based on the centrifuge tests that were carried out by the authors. Three piles of different soil-pile rigidity covering a wide range of pile flexibility were used in the study. The piles were pulled out at an angle of 15° to horizontal. In all cases the padeye depth was changed from at the ground surface to a depth of four times the pile diameter. From this parametric study, it was found that pulling out an offshore anchor pile at a level below the seabed has some advantages of increasing the ultimate capacity of the pile, decreasing pile deflection, and decreasing bending moment. An optimum depth of padeye was recommended.


2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed I. Ramadan ◽  
Stephen D. Butt ◽  
R. Popescu

A parametric study was carried out to study the behavior of offshore anchor piles under mooring forces in dense sand using a three dimensional (3-D) finite element model (FEM). The Mohr–Coulomb plastic model has been used to model the soil, and has been calibrated based on the centrifuge tests discussed in a Ph.D. thesis (published by Ramadan in 2011). The selection of model parameters and comparison of calibrated results with the centrifuge test results are discussed. In the parametric study, different pile lengths and diameters were considered to have different pile–soil rigidities. The pile was loaded at different load inclination angles to examine a wide range of loading conditions. From the current parametric study, design methods and design recommendations are given to help in improving the design of offshore anchor piles under monotonic mooring forces.


2018 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 01006
Author(s):  
Prastianto Rudi Walujo ◽  
Hadiwidodo Yoyok Setyo ◽  
Fuadi Ibnu Fasyin

The purpose of this study is to investigate the proper Stress Concentration Factor (SCF) of a 60° two-planar DKT tubular joint of a tripod wellhead offshore structure. So far, calculation of SCF for a multi-plane tubular joint was based on the formulation for the simple/uniplanar tubular joints that yield in over/under prediction of the SCF of the joint. This situation in turn decreasing the accuracy of fatigue life prediction of the structures. The SCF is one of the most important parameters in the tubular joint fatigue analysis. The tubular joint is modelled as finite element models with bending loads acting on the braces that cover a wide range of dimensionless geometrical parameters (β, τ, γ). The effect of such parameters on the SCF distribution along the weld toe of braces and chord on the joint are investigated. Validation of the finite element model has shown good agreement to the global structural analysis results. The results of parametric studies show that the peak SCF mostly occurs at around crown 2 point of the outer central brace. The increase of the β leads to decrease the SCF. While the increase of the τ and γ leads to increase the SCF. The effect of parameter β and γ on the SCF are greater than the effect of parameter τ.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Anderson Peccin da Silva ◽  
Andrea Diambra ◽  
Dimitris Karamitros ◽  
Shiao Huey Chow

This paper presents a new macro-element modelling framework for plate anchors which enables the effect of pore water pressure changes and the related evolution of soil strength during the process of cyclic loading and consolidation to be captured. The proposed modelling framework combines an advanced macro-element model for plate anchors, expanded to capture the cyclic loading behaviour, with a simple one-dimensional model of undrained shearing and consolidation for a soil element representative of the whole soil mass around the anchor. The representative soil element tracks the effects of changes in effective stress on the soil strength, which in turn governs the anchor capacity in the macro-element model. The two modelling components are linked through a mobilised capacity compatibility condition. It will be firstly shown that such modelling framework is able to capture the expected changes in an anchor’s capacity related to cyclic pore pressure generation and consolidation under one-dimensional cyclic loading of the anchor. Then, the model will be used to explore the plate anchor’s behaviour and failure mechanisms under loading conditions which mobilise its full three-dimensional cyclic loading capacity. The macro-element model will identify some conflicting mechanisms (i.e., the anchor’s kinematic/rotation and soil weakening/strengthening) governing the three-dimensional capacity of the anchor.


Author(s):  
Nabil Al Hakeem ◽  
Charles Aubeny

Vertically driven plate anchors offer an attractive anchoring solution for floating offshore structures, as they are both highly efficient and suitable for a wide range of soil conditions. Since they are oriented vertically after installation, keying is required to orient the anchor into the direction of applied loading. Simulation of the keying process has not been extensively investigated by previous research, especially for cohesionless soil. Reliable prediction of irrecoverable embedment loss during keying is needed, since such loss can lead to significant reduction in the uplift capacity of the plate anchors. Large deformation finite element analyses LDFE method using RITSS (Remeshing and Interpolation Technique with Small Strain) were used to simulate the keying process of strip plate anchor embedded in uniform cohesionless soil. LDFE showed that the loss in embedment depth of plate anchor during rotation is inversely proportional to the loading eccentricity e/B. It was also found that the maximum pullout capacity occurs before the end of keying process at orientations between 60° to 85° degrees for vertical loading. Also, the LDFE study showed that reduced elastic soil stiffness leading to increased levels of displacement at which the peak load is approached.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2547
Author(s):  
Elena Garcia ◽  
Julio Torres ◽  
Nuria Rebolledo ◽  
Raul Arrabal ◽  
Javier Sanchez

Reinforced concrete may corrode in anoxic environments such as offshore structures. Under such conditions the reinforcement fails to passivate completely, irrespective of chloride content, and the corrosion taking place locally induces the growth of discrete pits. This study characterised such pits and simulated their growth from experimentally determined electrochemical parameters. Pit morphology was assessed with an optical profilometer. A finite element model was developed to simulate pit growth based on electrochemical parameters for different cathode areas. The model was able to predict long-term pit growth by deformed geometry set up. Simulations showed that pit growth-related corrosion tends to maximise as cathode area declines, which lower the pitting factor. The mechanical strength developed by the passive and prestressed rebar throughout its service life was also estimated. Passive rebar strength may drop by nearly 20% over 100 years, whilst in the presence of cracking from the base of the pit steel strength may decline by over 40%.


Author(s):  
Xin Lu ◽  
Pankaj Kumar ◽  
Anand Bahuguni ◽  
Yanling Wu

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 618
Author(s):  
Huan Wang ◽  
Lizhong Wang ◽  
Yi Hong ◽  
Amin Askarinejad ◽  
Ben He ◽  
...  

The large-diameter monopiles are the most preferred foundation used in offshore wind farms. However, the influence of pile diameter and aspect ratio on the lateral bearing behavior of monopiles in sand with different relative densities has not been systematically studied. This study presents a series of well-calibrated finite-element (FE) analyses using an advanced state dependent constitutive model. The FE model was first validated against the centrifuge tests on the large-diameter monopiles. Parametric studies were performed on rigid piles with different diameters (D = 4–10 m) and aspect ratios (L/D = 3–7.5) under a wide range of loading heights (e = 5–100 m) in sands with different relative densities (Dr = 40%, 65%, 80%). The API and PISA p-y models were systematically compared and evaluated against the FE simulation results. The numerical results revealed a rigid rotation failure mechanism of the rigid pile, which is independent of pile diameter and aspect ratio. The computed soil pressure coefficient (K = p/Dσ′v) of different diameter piles at same rotation is a function of z/L (z is depth) rather than z/D. The force–moment diagrams at different deflections were quantified in sands of different relative density. Based on the observed pile–soil interaction mechanism, a simple design model was proposed to calculate the combined capacity of rigid piles.


Author(s):  
Dianshi Feng ◽  
Sze Dai Pang ◽  
Jin Zhang

The increasing marine activities in the Arctic has resulted in a growing demand for reliable structural designs in this region. Ice loads are a major concern to the designer of a marine structure in the arctic, and are often the principal factor that governs the structural design [Palmer and Croasdale, 2013]. With the rapid advancement in computational power, numerical method is becoming a useful tool for design of offshore structures subjected to ice actions. Cohesive element method (CEM), a method which has been widely utilized to simulate fracture in various materials ranging from metals to ceramics and composites as well as bi-material systems, has been recently applied to predict ice-structure interactions. Although it shows promising future for further applications, there are also some challenging issues like high mesh dependency, large variation in cohesive properties etc., yet to be resolved. In this study, a 3D finite element model with the use of CEM was developed in LS-DYNA for simulating ice-structure interaction. The stability of the model was investigated and a parameter sensitivity analysis was carried out for a better understanding of how each material parameter affects the simulation results.


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