Extreme Load-Response Mechanisms of a Tension Leg Platform due to Larger Wave Crests: Some Results of the ‘CresT’ JIP

Author(s):  
Janou Hennig ◽  
Jule Scharnke ◽  
Bas Buchner ◽  
Joris van den Berg

For the design of ships and offshore structures the largest crest height which can be expected in their lifetime is of key importance. This was confirmed by several incidences e.g. in hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico during the recent years. This is why MARIN started up the CresT JIP with a number of partners. The CresT JIP is now completed and some results of the extreme wave load and response mechanisms observed during model tests with a TLP will be presented in this paper. First an overview is given of the loading and response process during the most extreme event observed. As a next step the loading and response is related to the time and spatial characteristics of the waves, as it is not per definition the highest local crest or wave height that results in the most extreme dynamic response. Furthermore, the effect of different TLP design variations and short-crestedness will be discussed.

Author(s):  
Yu Chen ◽  
Yanling Wu ◽  
Graham Stewart ◽  
Johan Gullman-Strand ◽  
Xin Lu

Extreme wave impacts on the decks of offshore structures with insufficient air gap may cause damage or even collapse with safety, economic, and pollution consequences. In this study, the impact loads on a fixed platform deck have been predicted numerically by employing a Navier-Stokes solver with the free-surface captured by the volume of fluid (VOF) method. 3D numerical simulations of wave-deck interactions for long-crested extreme waves were performed. The simulations successfully captured the evolution of impact loads and free surface of the waves during the interaction with the platform deck. A detailed parametric analysis of wave-deck interactions showed significant differences in loads under various situations and confirmed the large magnitudes of the loads to be expected during impact. The results presented include a solid box and a more realistic case of under-deck beams. These provide a useful benchmark for predicting wave loadings on platform decks and through this research programme the longer term aim is to establish improved guidelines for assessing the risk of existing structures.


Author(s):  
Kjersti Bruserud ◽  
Sverre Haver

In lack of simultaneous data of metocean parameters such as wind, waves and currents, Norwegian design regulations presently recommend a conservative combination of metocean parameters for estimation of characteristic metocean loads on offshore structures. A simplified parametric load model for a jacket, based on waves and currents, is assumed. Several approaches to load estimation are investigated and the following are considered; different averaging length of extreme currents, the effect of peak-over-threshold approach for estimation of extreme wave and currents compared to all-sea states approach and extreme load estimation directly from a load time series. When compared to the recommended approach, all other approaches yield a reduced estimated characteristic metocean load. The results are intended be illustrative and not suitable for use in design.


1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 311-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
N B Johansen ◽  
P Harremoës ◽  
M Jensen

Overflow from combined systems constitute an increasing source of pollution of receiving waters, as compared to daily wastewater discharges which undergo treatment to a still higher extent. The receiving water problems from overflows are significant both in a long term scale (mean annual load) and in a short term scale (extreme event load). A method for computation of both annual and extreme load is presented. It is based on historical rain series and the use of a time-area model and simple pollutant mixing model in runoff calculation. Statistical calculations for both mean annual load and extreme events have been applied to the computed overflow series. Based on the computerized method simple manual calculations methods have been developed, resulting in graphs and tables for annual load and extreme load.


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.


Author(s):  
Andrew Cornett

Many deck-on-pile structures are located in shallow water depths at elevations low enough to be inundated by large waves during intense storms or tsunami. Many researchers have studied wave-in-deck loads over the past decade using a variety of theoretical, experimental, and numerical methods. Wave-in-deck loads on various pile supported coastal structures such as jetties, piers, wharves and bridges have been studied by Tirindelli et al. (2003), Cuomo et al. (2007, 2009), Murali et al. (2009), and Meng et al. (2010). All these authors analyzed data from scale model tests to investigate the pressures and loads on beam and deck elements subject to wave impact under various conditions. Wavein- deck loads on fixed offshore structures have been studied by Murray et al. (1997), Finnigan et al. (1997), Bea et al. (1999, 2001), Baarholm et al. (2004, 2009), and Raaij et al. (2007). These authors have studied both simplified and realistic deck structures using a mixture of theoretical analysis and model tests. Other researchers, including Kendon et al. (2010), Schellin et al. (2009), Lande et al. (2011) and Wemmenhove et al. (2011) have demonstrated that various CFD methods can be used to simulate the interaction of extreme waves with both simple and more realistic deck structures, and predict wave-in-deck pressures and loads.


Author(s):  
Eirini Katsidoniotaki ◽  
Edward Ransley ◽  
Scott Brown ◽  
Johannes Palm ◽  
Jens Engström ◽  
...  

Abstract Accurate modeling and prediction of extreme loads for survivability is of crucial importance if wave energy is to become commercially viable. The fundamental differences in scale and dynamics from traditional offshore structures, as well as the fact that wave energy has not converged around one or a few technologies, implies that it is still an open question how the extreme loads should be modeled. In recent years, several methods to model wave energy converters in extreme waves have been developed, but it is not yet clear how the different methods compare. The purpose of this work is the comparison of two widely used approaches when studying the response of a point-absorber wave energy converter in extreme waves, using the open-source CFD software OpenFOAM. The equivalent design-waves are generated both as equivalent regular waves and as focused waves defined using NewWave theory. Our results show that the different extreme wave modeling methods produce different dynamics and extreme forces acting on the system. It is concluded that for the investigation of point-absorber response in extreme wave conditions, the wave train dynamics and the motion history of the buoy are of high importance for the resulting buoy response and mooring forces.


Author(s):  
X. M. Wang ◽  
C. G. Koh ◽  
T. N. Thanh ◽  
J. Zhang

For the purpose of structural health monitoring (SHM), it is beneficial to develop a robust and accurate numerical strategy so as to identify key parameters of offshore structures. In this regard, it is difficult to use time-domain methods as the time history of wave load is not available unless output-only methods can be developed. Alternatively, spectral analysis widely used in offshore engineering to predict structural responses due to random wave conditions can be used. Thus the power spectral density (PSD) of structural response may be more appropriate than time history of structural responses in defining the objective (fitness) function for system identification of offshore structures. By minimizing PSD differences between measurements and simulations, the proposed numerical strategy is completely carried out in frequency domain, which can avoid inherent problems rising from random phase angles and unknown initial conditions in time domain. A jack-up platform is studied in the numerical study. A search space reduction method (SSRM) incorporating the use of genetic algorithms (GA) as well as a substructure approach are adopted to improve the accuracy and efficiency of identification. As a result, the stiffness parameters of jack-up legs can be well identified even under fairly noisy conditions.


1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (01) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Robinson ◽  
H.R. Brannon ◽  
G.W. Kattawar

Abstract Accurate prediction of storm wave characteristics are needed for design of offshore structures. Statistical methods of random noise analysis provide techniques for predicting required wave properties. These techniques have been used to analyze and characterize storm wave profiles from Gulf of Mexico recording installations in 34, 65 and 98 ft of water. Correlations based on the results can be used to predict wave crest probabilities and wave shapes for a range of Gull water depths and storm conditions. Example predictions of wave crest probability as a function of water depth for a particular set of storm conditions are given. Introduction Accurate predictions of wave crests and wave shapes are needed for design of offshore structures. With predictions of wave crests, platform deck elevations giving adequate protection from exposure to storm waves can be selected. Use of hydrodynamic wave theories with the wave crest and wave shape predictions permits an estimate of the wave forces an offshore structure must withstand. Observation of ocean waves suggests use of statistical analysis for studying wave characteristics for water depths beyond the breaking wave zone; recent wave generation theories lend support to this approach. One of the most powerful methods of statistically analyzing wave profiles was introduced by Cartwright and Longuet-Higgins; most of the basic relations used were developed by Rice in studies of random noise theory. This method predicts wave crest elevation probabilities from two parameters characterizing a wave profile. The statistical approach also provides a means for predicting wave shapes. In the random noise model of a wave profile, surface elevation is represented as an infinite sum of sine waves with closely spaced frequencies and random phase angles. Power density is proportional to the sum of the squares of the amplitudes of sine waves having frequencies within a narrow band, and the distribution of power density as a function of frequency is called the power density spectrum, or power spectrum. The power spectrum characterizes an irregular sea, and hence finds use in motion studies of ships, barges and semisubmersible drilling platforms. From the power spectrum, a wave profile of any duration of time can, in principle, be calculated; this long wave profile depicts the many wave shapes to which a structure may be exposed. Thus, the statistical methods of wave analysis provide an approach to selecting wave shapes as well as wave crest elevations needed for design of offshore structures. For practical application of these techniques, power spectra and related quantities must be predicted from storm properties. Barber and Tucker have reviewed correlations of wave properties and storm conditions. Their review summarizes work of Darbyshire, among others, in which a correlation of power spectra with wind intensity of the North Atlantic was developed. These results, plus more recent work by Pierson and Moskowitz and Kitaigorodskii, establish feasibility of correlation, but there is no theoretical basis for modifications extending the relations to other area's as remote as the Gulf of Mexico. Hence, to predict characteristics of Gulf of Mexico waves, a study of local observations is needed. This paper presentsa practical approach to computing wave profiles that depict shapes of waves for use in force calculations,a summary of relations for predicting probabilities of wave crest elevations,correlations of parameters needed to apply these methods in the Gulf of Mexico andexamples of application of the techniques. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND The following sections summarize relations needed to calculate wave profiles and to estimate wave crest probabilities. SPEJ P. 87ˆ


Author(s):  
Dong Cheol Seo ◽  
Tanvir Sayeed ◽  
M. Hasanat Zaman ◽  
Ayhan Akinturk

Offshore oil and gas operations conducted in harsh environments such offshore Newfoundland may pose additional risks due to collision of smaller ice pieces and bergy bits with the offshore structures, including their topsides in the case of gravity based structures particularly in extreme waves. In this paper, CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) prediction for wave loads acting on a bergy bit around a fixed offshore platform is presented. Often the vertical column of a gravity based structure is designed against ice collisions, if operating in such an environment. In practices, topsides are usually protected by being placed sufficiently high from the still water level, away from the reach of the bergy bits. This vertical clearance between the still water level and the topside deck is known an air gap. Hence, the amount of the air gap planned for such an offshore structure is an important factor for the safety of the topsides at a given location. In this study a CFD method is applied to estimate the dynamic response of the bergy bit and provide a reliable air gap to reduce the potential risk of the bergy bit collision. In advance of more complex collision simulations using a free-floating ice for the airgap design, CFD analysis of wave load prediction on a stationary bergy bit is carried out and reported in this paper. In the experiments and CFD simulations, the location of the bergy bit is changed to quantify the change of wave load due to the hydrodynamic interaction between the bergy bit and the platform. Finally, the results of the CFD simulations are compared with the relevant experiment results to confirm the simulation performance prior to the free floating bergy bit simulations.


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