Practical Modeling for Articulated Risers and Loading Columns

An efficient method for the analysis of the linear and nonlinear static and dynamic motions of offshore systems such as risers and single-leg mooring towers is presented. The technique is based on the finite element approach using connected coordinates for arbitrary large rotations and includes terms due to loads such as buoyancy, gravity, random waves, currents, ship motions and Morison’s equation. Practical features include the addition of intermediate articulations and modeling of the loading arm between the riser and associated tanker. Parametric studies are presented to show that stable and accurate results are obtained using relatively large time step increments leading to efficient design studies.