Air-Pressure Characteristics of Aircushion Supported Large Floating Structures

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoki Ikoma ◽  
Koichi Masuda ◽  
Chang-Kyu Rheem ◽  
Hisaaki Maeda ◽  
Ryo Iwasa
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Prediction ◽  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Initial Pressure ◽  
Exciting Force ◽  
Adiabatic Compression ◽  
Air Pressure ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Floating Structures ◽  
Pressure Characteristics

Air-pressure characteristics of air supported fixed floating structures are described in this paper. The theoretical prediction method of responses of the aircushion type floating structure in waves has been proposed. The adiabatic compression is assumed to the prediction method. In this study, model experiments using two aircushion type models are carried out in the wave tank. Then, pressures in the aircushion and the wave exciting force of heave are measured. It is verified to assume spatially uniformly distribution to pressure distribution from explorations by using the experimental results of the pressure and the phase difference. In addition, effects of the initial pressure of the aircushion and the draft of the skirt bounding the aircushion and/or water are little.

A Numerically Efficient Method for Analysis of Very Large Articulated Floating Structures

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 174-186
Author(s):  
C. J. Garrison
Keyword(s):  
Hydrodynamic Interaction ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Complete Structure ◽  
Field Interaction ◽  
Floating Structures ◽  
Computing Effort ◽  
The Individual

A method is presented for evaluation of the motion of long structures composed of interconnected barges, or modules, of arbitrary shape. Such structures are being proposed in the construction of offshore airports or other large offshore floating structures. It is known that the evaluation of the motion of jointed or otherwise interconnected modules which make up a long floating structure may be evaluated by three dimensional radiation/diffraction analysis. However, the computing effort increases rapidly as the complexity of the geometric shape of the individual modules and the total number of modules increases. This paper describes an approximate method which drastically reduces the computational effort without major effects on accuracy. The method relies on accounting for hydrodynamic interaction effects between only adjacent modules within the structure rather than between all of the modules since the near-field interaction is by far the more important. This approximation reduces the computational effort to that of solving the two-module problem regardless of the total number of modules in the complete structure.

Feasibility of Using Stress Joint in an Existing Flexible Joint Receptacle for a Deepwater SCR

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basim Mekha ◽  
Alok Kumar ◽  
Mike Stark ◽  
Paul Barnett
Keyword(s):  
Bending Moment ◽  
Flexible Joints ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Flexible Joint ◽  
Floating Structures ◽  
Operational Problem ◽  
Hull Structure ◽  
Hull Design ◽  
Titanium Material

In recent years, most fluid produced or exported has been transported using steel catenary risers (SCRs) attached to deepwater floating structures. The SCRs are terminated at the floating structures using Top Termination Units (TTUs) such as flexible joints or tapered stress joints. The flexible joints are usually designed to allow the riser to rotate with the floating structure motion and reduce the amount of moments transferred to the hull structure. The flexible joints depend on the flexibility and compressibility of the elastomer layers to allow for the rotation of the SCR. The stress joints, alternatively, provide fixed support at the hull and thus larger bending moment that has to be accounted for in the hull design. The stress joints can be made of steel or titanium material. The SCR TTU’s receptacle, which will be welded to the hull porch and contains the TTU basket, has to be designed to meet the force and reaction requirements associated with the selected TTU type. However, in some cases which could be due to failure of the TTU to meet the expected life or the operational requirements, the operators may have to replace the damaged TTU with another one or with a different TTU type. A few examples are available in the Gulf of Mexico. Recently the Flexible Joint TTU of the Independent Hub 20-inch export SCR had an operational problem. During the course of investigating the related issues and studying possible solutions, one option considered was the feasibility of replacing the Flexible Joint (FJ) with Titanium Tapered Stress Joint (TSJ). This paper highlights the issues that have to be considered in the design of the FJ existing receptacle to accommodate the force reactions of a Titanium TSJ. These issues are addressed and the results of the detailed finite element analysis performed are provided. The analysis conclusions, which are related to the feasibility of the existing receptacle to receive the loads imposed by TSJ and the modifications required to achieve this, are presented.

Hydroelastic Motion of Aircushion Type Large Floating Structures With Several Aircushions Using a Three-Dimensional Theory

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoki Ikoma ◽  
Koichi Masuda ◽  
Chang-Kyu Rheem ◽  
Hisaaki Maeda ◽  
Mayumi Togane
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Linear Potential ◽  
Floating Structures ◽  
Wide Wavelength Range ◽  
Linear Potential Theory ◽  
Vertical Bending Moment

This paper describes hydroelastic motion and effect of motion reduction of aircushion supported large floating structures. Motion reduction effects due to presence of aircushions have been confirmed from theoretical calculations with the zero-draft assumption. A three-dimensional prediction method has been developed for considering draft influence of division walls of aircushions. It is investigated that hydroelastic motion reduction is possible or not by using the three-dimensional theoretical calculations. In addition, the aircushion types are supported by many aircushions which are small related to wavelengths. The Green’s function method is applied to the prediction method with the linear potential theory in which effect of free water surfaces within aircushions are considered. Hydroelastic responses are estimated as not only elastic motion but also a vertical bending moment. From the results, the response reduction is confirmed, in particular, to the vertical bending moment in wide wavelength range and in whole structure area.

Very Large Floating Structures

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Suzuki ◽  
H. R. Riggs ◽  
M. Fujikubo ◽  
T. A. Shugar ◽  
H. Seto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Procedure ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Floating Structures ◽  
Design Procedures ◽  
Novel Technology ◽  
Hydroelastic Analysis ◽  
Behavior Design ◽  
Hydroelastic Response ◽  
Near Future

Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) is a unique concept of ocean structures primary because of their unprecedented length, displacement cost and associated hydroelastic response. International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC) had paid attention to the emerging novel technology and launched Special Task Committee to investigate the state of the art in the technology. This paper summarizes the activities of the committee. A brief overview of VLFS is given first for readers new to the subject. History, application and uniqueness with regard to engineering implication are presented. The Mobile Offshore Base (MOB) and Mega-Float, which are typical VLFS projects that have been investigated in detail and are aimed to be realized in the near future, are introduced. Uniqueness of VLFS, such as differences in behavior of VLFS from conventional ships and offshore structures, are described. The engineering challenges associated with behavior, design procedure, environment, and the structural analysis of VLFS are introduced. A comparative study of hydroelastic analysis tools that were independently developed for MOB and Mega-Float is made in terms of accuracy of global behavior. The effect of structural modeling on the accuracy of stress analysis is also discussed. VLFS entails innovative design methods and procedure. Development of design criteria and design procedures are described and application of reliability-based approaches are documented and discussed.

Power Generation Potential of a VLFS Equipped With OWC Type WECs and Damper Effects on Elastic Motion

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoki Ikoma ◽  
Koichi Masuda ◽  
Yuka Watanabe ◽  
Hiroaki Eto ◽  
Chang-kyu Rheem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Water Surface ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Vertical Displacement ◽  
Air Pressure ◽  
Linear Potential ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Free Water Surface

This paper describes potential of PTO (Power Take-Off) and the damper effect of motion in a large scale pontoon type floating structure on which lots of oscillating water column (OWC) type wave energy convertors (WEC) are installed. It is enable to use upper space for utilizing marine renewable energy such as wind power, tidal power, wave power generation farm using large pontoon structure. Due to the concept, it should reduce cost of maintenance as well. For investigation of PTO and elastic motion behaviours of large floating structures, we calculated three types of models on which OWC devices were installed differently. We examined how much reduction was possible when including elastic motion effects and the fixed type which radiation wave was not taken into account. In this paper, a boundary condition in order to give effect of a free water surface with air pressure is theoretically modeled. We can directly consider influence of wave energy absorption to hydrodynamic forces and wave exciting forces on the floating structure with the Green’s function method based on the linear potential theory. In the modeling, a boundary condition on a free water surface and an equation of state within an air-chamber above OWC are mathematically and linearly formulated. Air-pressures and vertical displacement within OWC areas can be simultaneously and directly solved by setting both the variables and by solving the simultaneously equations of the air-pressure and the vertical displacement. As a result, performance of PTO and hydroelastic motion of the floating structure increased when including elastic motion effect. In addition, expected value of annual PTO was about 4.4MW with 146 OWCs.

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