Model Tests With the HVS Semisubmersible for Dry Tree Application

Author(s):  
Johyun Kyoung ◽  
Chan-Kyu Yang ◽  
Kostas Lambrakos ◽  
Jim O’Sullivan

The global hull motion performance of the HVS semisubmersible for dry tree application is investigated with model tests. The HVS semisubmersible, which has been validated for low heave motion and VIM (Vortex Induced Motion) response, was modified for dry tree application. As a base case, the modification includes a keel plate with riser keel guides at the level of the pontoons. The keel plate is optimally designed to increase the hull heave period to compensate for the heave period reduction in the HVS semisubmersible due to the riser tensioners for the dry tree application. The plate also provides additional viscous damping that decreases the heave response at the heave natural period. The model tests were performed to investigate the in-place hull motion performance for the Gulf of Mexico environmental conditions. The pneumatic riser tensioners were modeled using a spring with dual stiffness. Because of the water depth limit in the wave basin, a truncated mooring was used to simulate the full scale prototype mooring system. An alternate modification to the HVS semisubmersible that includes pontoon plates was also tested and the measured response was compared to the response of the base case. The measured hull responses were correlated with MLTSIM, a Technip in-house nonlinear time-domain 6-DOF motion analysis program.

Author(s):  
Qi Xu

Recently the semisubmersible has become a favorable choice as a wet-tree floating platform supporting steel catenary risers (SCRs), mainly due to its capability of quayside topside integration and cost-effectiveness. However, it is still a challenge for a conventional semisubmersible to support SCRs, particularly large ones, in harsh environment and relatively shallow water due to its large heave motion. To answer this challenge, a new semisubmersible design has been developed at Technip as a wet-tree floater which achieves significantly improved heave motion and vortex-induced-motion (VIM) performance through hull form optimization while maintaining the simplicity of a conventional semisubmersible design. The difference between the NexGen semi-submersible design and a conventional semi-submersible design is in the blisters attached to the columns, distribution of pontoon volume, and pontoon cross section shape. In the NexGen semi-submersible design, the pontoon volume is re-distributed to minimize heave loading while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity, a long heave natural period and adequate quayside buoyancy. The blisters attached to the columns effectively break the vortex shedding coherence along the column length and therefore suppresses VIM. The blisters also provide much needed stability at quayside and during the hull deployment process, making the hull design less sensitive to topside weight increase. In the present paper the hydrodynamic aspects of this new design are discussed in detail. A benchmark case is presented in which the new design is compared against a more conventional design with the same principal dimensions. It is shown that the heave response in extreme sea states (100-yr hurricane) at the platform center of gravity is reduced by about 30–40%, and at the SCR hang-off locations by about 25–30%. Due to the reduced heave motion, SCRs experience about one third less stress at the touchdown point. A qualitative VIM analytical model is used to predict the VIM suppression effect of the new design. A highlight of a VIM model test for the proposed design is also presented. The reduced heave and VIM significantly improve the riser stress and fatigue near the touchdown point. This new design makes the semisubmersible a more robust wet-tree floater concept, and even a potentially good candidate as a dry-tree host concept in relatively benign environment.


Author(s):  
Johyun Kyoung ◽  
C. K. Yang ◽  
Jim O’Sullivan ◽  
Thiago Miliante

Validation of the HVS (Heave and VIM Suppressed) semi-submersible’s global performance is carried out through wave basin model tests and correlation with numerical analysis. As an application for a wet-tree floater, Technip designed the HVS semisubmersible to have reduced heave and VIM (Vortex Induced Motion) response. The HVS semisubmersible has blisters attached to the columns. The blister breaks the coherence of the vortex shedding along the length of the column and as a result reduces the VIM response. The redistribution of pontoon volume because of the blister reduces the heave excitation loading. The blister also provides adequate buoyancy for quayside integration. To validate the improved hull global performance, the wave basin model tests were performed. In the tests, collinear hurricane environments of the Gulf of Mexico were considered for two different headings. Truncated mooring was applied to simulate prototype mooring system. Wind loading was applied by means of a dynamic controlled wind winch. Current was generated by a wire attached to a system of pulleys. The measured hull responses were correlated with MLTSIM, a Technip in-house time-domain nonlinear motion analysis program. Through the correlation with model test results, the improved HVS semisubmersible global motion in hurricane environments is validated.


Author(s):  
António Maximiano ◽  
Arjen Koop ◽  
Jaap de Wilde ◽  
Rodolfo T. Gonçalves

Recent studies suggest that the vortex-induced motions (VIM) of a semi-submersible found in model tests over-predicts the response in the field, which may lead to an over conservative design of the mooring and riser system. Within the Vortex Induced Motion Joint Industry Project (VIM JIP), run by MARIN and University of São Paulo (USP), possible reasons for this over-prediction are investigated using model tests and CFD [1–6]. A model test campaign was carried out at MARIN to test different candidates that might explain the observed differences. The results obtained with an air bearing setup regarding damping, mass ratio, draft variations and sinusoidal tow velocities, have been published elsewhere [6]. The present publication focuses on the influence of waves on the VIM response. The model was a generic bare hull semi submersible with four rounded square columns at scale 56.5. A simplified mooring system consisting of four springs was designed to match the desired natural period in the sway and yaw direction. The model was towed at different velocities, corresponding to the range of reduced velocities where the highest response is expected. A VIM tow test campaign was carried out in calm water as a benchmark. The model was then tested at 7 different wave-current conditions, and the results are compared with the benchmark case. The results suggest that two factors are important for VIM response in waves: the wave height, and the relation between wave and current direction. Comparing to calm water conditions, a reduction of 15% on the peak nominal response was found for a smaller sea state (HS = 2m, TP = 10s), however with a higher significant wave height (HS = 4m, TP = 10s) the peak nominal response was reduced by 30%. Depending on the combination of current-wave direction, the influence of the same sea state (HS = 4m, TP = 10s) on VIM response can be negligible (transverse seas) or result in a 30% reduction of the peak nominal response for collinear sea and current. This is a relevant finding since most research on the topic has focused on collinear conditions, and VIM tests in waves with transverse or oblique conditions are rare [7–9]. Comparing the calm water VIM response obtained with the air bearing setup, published in [6], with the soft mooring configuration reported here, the latter shows a generally smaller response, with a narrower lock in region. Nevertheless the peak response is found to be similar for both experimental setups.


Author(s):  
Neil Williams ◽  
Steve Leverette ◽  
Sean Bian ◽  
Sean Large ◽  
Peimin Cao
Keyword(s):  

This paper discusses the development of a dry-tree semisubmersible (DTS) platform concept appropriate for deployment in non-hurricane/non-cyclonic environments worldwide, and the verification of the concept through wave basin model tests. An example configuration is presented for an application in 2,100 m water depth offshore Brazil.


2007 ◽  
Vol 01 (03) ◽  
pp. 233-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUBHADEEP BANERJEE ◽  
SIANG HUAT GOH ◽  
FOOK HOU LEE

The behavior of pile foundations under earthquake loading is an important factor affecting the performance of structures. Observations from past earthquakes have shown that piles in firm soils generally perform well, while the performance of piles in soft or liquefied ground can raise some questions. Centrifuge model tests were carried out at the National University of Singapore to investigate the response of pile-soil system under three different earthquake excitations. Some initial tests were done on kaolin clay beds to understand the pure clay behavior under repetitive earthquake shaking. Pile foundations comprising of solid steel, hollow steel and hollow steel pile filled with cement in-fill were then embedded in the kaolin clay beds to study the response of clay-pile system. Superstructural inertial loading on the foundation was modeled by fastening steel weight on top of the model raft. The model test results show that strain softening and stiffness degradation feature strongly in the behaviour of the clay. In uniform clay beds without piles, this is manifested as an increase in resonance periods of the surface response with level of shaking and with successive earthquakes. For the pile systems tested, the effect of the surrounding soft clay was primarily to impose an inertial loading onto the piles, thereby increasing the natural period of the piles over and above that of the pile foundation alone. There is also some evidence that the relative motion between piles and soil leads to aggravated softening of the soil around the pile, thereby lengthening its resonance period of the soil further. The centrifuge model tests were back-analyzed using the finite element code ABAQUS. The analysis shows that the simple non-linear hypoelastic soil model gave reasonably good agreement with the experimental observations. The engineering implication arising from this study so far is that, for the case of relatively short piles in soft clays, the ground surface motions may not be representative of the raft motion. Other than the very small earthquakes, the raft motion has a shorter resonance period than the surrounding soil.


Author(s):  
Claudio A. Rodríguez ◽  
F. Taveira-Pinto ◽  
P. Rosa-Santos

A new concept of wave energy device (CECO) has been proposed and developed at the Hydraulics, Water Resources and Environment Division of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). In a first stage, the proof of concept was performed through physical model tests at the wave basin (Rosa-Santos et al., 2015). These experimental results demonstrated the feasibility of the concept to harness wave energy and provided a preliminary assessment of its performance. Later, an extensive experimental campaign was conducted with an enhanced 1:20 scale model of CECO under regular and irregular long and short-crested waves (Marinheiro et al., 2015). An electric PTO system with adjustable damping levels was also installed on CECO as a mechanism of quantification of the WEC power. The results of regular waves tests have been used to validate a numerical model to gain insight into different potential configurations of CECO and its performance (López et al., 2017a,b). This paper presents the results and analyses of the model tests in irregular waves. A simplified approach based on spectral analyses of the WEC motions is presented as a means of experimental assessment of the damping level of the PTO mechanism and its effect on the WEC power absorption. Transfer functions are also computed to identify nonlinear effects associated to higher waves and to characterize the range of periods where wave absorption is maximized. Furthermore, based on the comparison of the present experimental results with those corresponding to a linear numerical potential model, some discussions are addressed regarding viscous and other nonlinear effects on CECO performance.


1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. 48-56
Author(s):  
Emilio C. Garcia

Abstract The performance of offshore work from floating platforms dictates the desirability of "Minimum platforms dictates the desirability of "Minimum motions". One of the most troublesome motions, especially in the case of ship-shape or barge-shape platforms, is the roll motion because of the large platforms, is the roll motion because of the large amplitude and relatively large acceleration forces that could arise from such motion. Different devices have been employed to minimize The roll motion of ships bilge keels, gyroscopic stabilizers, solid moss transfer, stabilizing fins, U-tanks, flume tanks, active ballast transfer tanks, etc. The systems utilizing fins are effective only when the ship is under way and are not suitable for zero-speed offshore operations. The barge keels are generally very effective in damping the roll motions, and they prevent the angle of roll from becoming too large, but their reduction of the roll is limited to angles that are too great for the satisfactory performance of offshore operations, i.e., oil drilling. performance of offshore operations, i.e., oil drilling. The gyroscopic stabilizers generally are not used because of their high cost and complexity. The U-tanks, flume tanks, and active stabilizing tanks work by transferring ballast horizontally and by creating a stabilizing moment out of phase with the exciting force. This paper details use of the detuning tank. This system is different from others in the sense that it does not try to compensate the action of the forces imparted by the sea to the floating body with properly phased compensating forces, but tries to properly phased compensating forces, but tries to prevent the sea from imparting the forces to the prevent the sea from imparting the forces to the body. The effectiveness of the detuning tanks bas been experimentally verified in model basin motion tests and studies. Introduction Safety at sea is the first consideration of marine designers. Ships of conventional form or floating platforms for offshore operations must, under all platforms for offshore operations must, under all expected circumstances, float and be stable-hence, the application of suitable criteria for stability is one of the cornerstones of naval architectural design. The ability to maintain stability under design weather conditions, even after sustaining a certain amount of damage, has dictated maximum allowable heights of the center of gravity (KG) or minimum metacentric heights (GM). This limitation is certainly necessary in order to meet the demands of safety, but it is necessary only during certain extreme weather conditions or after flooding caused by damage. But this occurs, if it ever does, only during a very small percentage of the life of the ship, and to be prepared for this eventuality we may be forced to select some "safe parameter", like minimum GM, that may affect the parameter", like minimum GM, that may affect the motion performance of the ship during the major part of her useful working life. part of her useful working life. The motion performance may be of certain importance for ships engaged in ocean trade from the standpoint of crew comfort and the ability to maintain sea speed both of which have a certain economic value. But ships and platforms that are engaged An offshore work are more vitally affected by the motion performance, and their very effectiveness as offshore tools depends on how many days of the year they can perform their functions and the weather conditions that would force operations to be suspended. Roll motions have been one of the reasons for discontinuing offshore operations for ship-shape and barge-shape platforms not only because the amplitude of the motions but because of the high acceleration forces in the work area that can be originated by relative small amplitudes at short motion periods. The inclination due to wave action appears to be composed of two periodic functions, the period of one being the wave period T and the other period of one being the wave period T and the other the natural rolling period of the ship T . Rolling in still water is a free oscillation and the ship will roll in its own natural period. Among waves, the impulses producing the roll are periodic and tend to set up a forced oscillation of the ship in the period of the wave. If waves of constant period act for a sufficient time upon the ship, it will roll in the period of the waves, but if the period of the waves period of the waves, but if the period of the waves is not constant, the ship roll will not follow exactly that of the waves because of the tendency of the ship to revert to roll in its own natural period. SPEJ P. 48


Author(s):  
Joost Sterenborg ◽  
Nicola Grasso ◽  
Rogier Schouten ◽  
Arjen Tjallema

Abstract One of the aims of The Ocean Cleanup is to develop technologies to extract plastic pollution from the world’s oceans. Several concepts of passive floating systems were considered that are supposed to confine plastics to ease their collection. Such concepts consist of a floating member and a submerged flexible skirt and have in common that their span is generally more than 500 meters. Consequently, fluid-structure interaction plays an important role in the response of such a floating system. To support numerical simulations, MARIN carried out extensive model tests on a 120 meter system section of the final concept, with focus on the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) of the submerged skirt in operating conditions and in towing configuration. The ability to capture plastics was not investigated in these model tests. Novel for wave-basin tests were non-intrusive measurements using underwater Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to obtain the displacements and deformations of the flexible skirt. DIC proved to be a capable measurement technique for this type of structure in combination with a wave basin. Detailed quantitative data on skirt motions and deformations were delivered and the last concept of the cleanup system was tested in the towing configuration and operational configuration.


Author(s):  
Pedro C. de Mello ◽  
Felipe Rateiro ◽  
Andre´ L. C. Fujarra ◽  
Anderson T. Oshiro ◽  
Cassiano R. Neves ◽  
...  

This paper and the companion paper (Rateiro et al., 2011) present an illustrative case of the joint application of experimental tests and numerical simulations for the proper analysis of a complex offshore operation (launching of a sub-sea equipment using one or two vessels). The main idea of the whole study is to compare two methodologies and operational procedures for the installation of the equipment in the seabed, using either one vessel (conventional operation) or two vessels in a synchronized operation in a Y-configuration. The experiment was conducted under a simplified configuration, and uses ODF (one degree of freedom) servo-actuator to emulate the vessels induced motion. The hydrodynamic properties of the equipment was then calculated, and some preliminary conclusions about system dynamics could also be drawn. After that, numerical simulations were conducted, considering the coupled dynamics of the vessels, cables and equipments under irregular sea state. Those simulations were used for determining the limiting environmental condition for a safe operation, and are described in the companion paper. This paper describes the reduced scale experimental setup used for evaluating the hydrodynamic properties of the equipment during a subsea installation under waves excitation. The reduced scale model of the equipment was attached to one or two servo-actuator, that emulate the wave-induced motion. The tests were conducted at the physical wave basin of Numerical Offshore Tank (Tanque de Provas Nume´rico – TPN). The experiments enabled the preliminary evaluation of the dynamic behavior of the equipment when submerged by one or two launching cables. In the later case (two launching cables), several tests considering phase shifts between the servo-actuator have been conducted. The reduction in the dynamic amplification of cable traction could also be experimentally verified.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Hsin Hung Chen ◽  
Ray-Yeng Yang ◽  
Ping-Chiao Kuo ◽  
Hwung-Hweng Hwung

There are significant engineering challenges in placing the sea-crossing bridge piers in more or les shallow coastal waters because, as well as having to withstand storm-force waves and tidal currents, the bridge piers have to remain stable on a sea bed that may be continuously changing. One of the major challenges faced by designers is how to predict, and prevent, scour of the seabed sediments around the sea-crossing bridge piers. This paper describes a physical model study on scour and scour countermeasure for sea-crossing bridge piers. A 1:49 scale movable bed model tests were carried out in the Near-shore Wave Basin (NSWB, 27m x 19m) at the Tainan Hydraulics Laboratory, National Chang Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, with the sea-crossing bridge piers in the test area. Three series of physical model tests were performed in this study. The aim of the first test series is to investigate the maximum scour depth for the initial construction of bridge piers with only one pier model. Then the second test series were conducted to investigate the greatest magnitude of local scour and potential scour area in the sand bed around the sea-crossing bridge group piers with no scour protection. Based on the analysis from the former NSWB experimental results, the suitable scour countermeasure for sea-crossing bridge piers would be proposed and validated its function of preventing scour in the third test series.


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