Summary and Recommendations for Safe Mooring System Design in ULS and ALS

Author(s):  
Siril Okkenhaug ◽  
Torfinn Hørte ◽  
Øivind Paulshus

DNV GL is currently running a Joint Industry Project, “NorMoor JIP”, with participants from oil companies, engineering companies, rig-owners, manufacturers and marine authorities. It is a global study covering Gulf of Mexico, Northern Europe and Brazil waters. Our motivation for initiating a study on mooring line reliability was that all the global standards (API, ISO, DNV GL, others) are mostly based on work from late 1990s, when frequency domain analysis was prevalent. The reliability level implied by these regulations is not known, and we also see that the mooring standards are interpreted and applied differently. Thus, there is a need for a mooring design code with a consistent analysis methodology and with safety factors that are in line with this methodology and calibrated at an appropriate target reliability level. This is achieved through reliability-based calibration for a range of different units, mooring systems, water depths and geographical locations. The focus in the present paper is the calibration of safety factors and selection of target reliability level. The underlying probabilistic analysis results used for the calibration are reported in two accompanying papers at OMAE 2017, [1] and [2], dealing with structural reliability analyses for the ULS and ALS respectively. For mobile units frequency domain analyses are common, and although the main attention in the JIP is towards time domain analyses, it is part of the JIP to calibrate safety factors for frequency domain analyses as well. The annual extreme value distribution of line tension for all cases is calculated in time domain and is applied both in the calibration of safety factors for time domain and frequency domain analyses. It is seen that characteristic tensions from time domain analyses are likely to be higher than those from frequency domain analyses. The dilemma of not being penalized when using more refined time domain analyses is discussed, and different safety factors have been suggested for use with time domain and frequency domain analyses. A discussion about target reliability level is included, and the target levels are proposed with basis in the existing mooring design practice for mobile units, where frequency domain analysis is prevalent. Different targets are proposed depending on consequences of failure. Calibration for different design formats are carried out. The current format using a single safety factor is challenged with a format with two safety factors. The objective is to arrive as close as possible to the target reliability for all cases analyzed. A different design philosophy is needed in the Gulf of Mexico in order to achieve acceptable risk, and options are discussed. The present work provides a unique and comprehensive set of results, where advanced reliability methods are used to calibrate a mooring design code where the mooring line tensions are calculated in the time domain. The results provide a basis for regulators, such as ISO, to update their rules. ULS and ALS are covered here, and a potential phase 3 of the JIP will cover the fatigue limit state. When the NorMoor JIP is completed the plan is to implement the results into DNVGL-OS-E301, [5].

Author(s):  
Siril Okkenhaug ◽  
Jan Mathisen ◽  
Torfinn Hørte

DNV is currently running a Joint Industry Project, “NorMoor JIP”, on calibration of safety factors for mooring lines together with several oil companies, engineering companies, rig-owners, manufacturers of mooring line components and Norwegian authorities. Our motivation for initiating a study on mooring line safety factors started out with questions raised with regards to the safety level given by the Norwegian regulations. However, this is equally important for other mooring regulations like ISO, API and class-regulations. What we see is that the mooring standards are interpreted and applied in different ways. The reliability level implied by the regulations is not known, and the present safety factors were set when frequency domain analysis was prevalent while time domain analysis is often applied today. DNV carried out the DeepMoor JIP [9] during 1995–2000 using frequency domain analysis and reliability-based calibration. Now, a decade later, the increase in computing capacity makes it feasible to carry out a similar calibration for time-domain analysis of the mooring systems. The objective of the project work is to investigate and compare the characteristic line tension calculated according to design standards with the annual extreme value distribution of the line tension. Further, to calibrate safety factors for mooring line design for the ultimate limit state (ULS) as a function of the target probability of failure. The original proposal for this JIP included calculations for chain and wire rope moorings on a typical drill rig and a turret moored FPSO at three different water depths at Haltenbanken. However, since this JIP has been very well received in the industry, the scope has been extended to include calculations for a production semisubmersible, for fibre rope systems and for Gulf of Mexico environmental conditions. This paper will focus on the reasons for doing this calibration study, and the importance of seeking to agree on unified calculation recipes and requirements. Preliminary results for characteristic tension and annual extreme value distributions of tension for some designs are presented and discussed. The calibration of safety factors will be carried out later in the project when all designs are finalized.


Author(s):  
Chan K. Yang ◽  
D. H. Lee ◽  
M. H. Kim ◽  
B. N. Park ◽  
Y. T. Yang ◽  
...  

In this paper, the float-off operation of a land-built crude oil tank (COT) loaded out and towed on launching dual-submersible barges is numerically simulated by a time-domain vessel-mooring-riser coupled dynamic analysis program with multiple floating bodies. The study is particularly focused on the maximum load prediction on connectors and the minimum gap prediction between barges and the COT. In case of simpler modeling, the time-domain simulation results are compared with frequency-domain results. Then, the time-domain model is run for more realistic situation with hawsers and mooring line. In hydrodynamic analysis, the interactions among the 3 floating bodies are fully taken into consideration. In the frequency-domain analysis, the connectors between barges are modeled by equivalent translational and rotational springs, the stiffness of which is estimated using Euler’s beam theory. In order to assess the possible occurrence of contact between COT and barges, the relative motions between barges and the COT at several points of interest were investigated.


Author(s):  
Torfinn Hørte ◽  
Siril Okkenhaug ◽  
Øivind Paulshus

Structural reliability analysis (SRA) has been used to calculate the probability of mooring line failure in an intact mooring system as a function of the magnitude of the safety factor applied in design. A range of different units have been considered, comprising ship shaped units and semisubmersibles at different water depths from 100 m to 2200 m. Environmental conditions representative for the Norwegian continental shelf and the Gulf of Mexico are used in the analyses, and the characteristics of the results in the different environments are compared and discussed. Analyses for Brazilian environment are currently ongoing, but not included here. Time domain analysis is applied to obtain the short-term, extreme value distribution of line tension, conditional on stationary metocean conditions. A large number of different conditions are considered. A response surface is used to interpolate on the distribution parameters in order to describe the tension response in varying conditions. Joint probabilistic models of the metocean environment corresponding to the different geographical locations have been applied, taking account of wind, wave and current and their respective heading angles. A continuous model is used for the metocean conditions at the Norwegian continental shelf, whereas a hurricane model is used in the Gulf of Mexico. The effects of uncertainties in the response calculation are included. The mooring line component strength is based on strength data from break load tests. Conventional catenary chain-wire chain systems as well as polyester moorings are considered. With the probability of failure as a function of the safety factor, it is shown that present regulations result in a significant scatter in reliability level between the cases. Safety factors have been calibrated considering all cases. Alternative design formats are proposed and tested including a format with 2 safety factors. Calibration results are provided as a function of the target reliability level. The final recommendation on target reliability level is given in an accompanying paper at OMAE 2017, comprising both the ULS and the ALS. It is demonstrated that alternative design formats can provide a more consistent safety level across the cases. A different design philosophy is needed for the Gulf of Mexico in order to achieve acceptable risk. Options for design are discussed. The present work provides a unique and comprehensive set of results, where advanced reliability methods are used in combination with detailed response calculations in the time domain. The results provide a basis for calibration of mooring design for ULS and subsequently for regulators to update their rules. The work has been carried out as part of the NorMoor Joint Industry Project, with participants from oil companies, engineering companies, rig-owners, manufacturers and marine authorities. This paper is the first one in a series of three at OMAE 2017, where the second deals with structural reliability analysis of the ALS and the third one provides summary and recommendations for safe mooring design in ULS and ALS.


Author(s):  
Sojan Vasudevan ◽  
Paul Westlake

This paper presents the results of the analyses of a twelve line catenary mooring system using a quasi-static method in the frequency domain, and uncoupled and coupled dynamic methods in the time domain. The latter is found to produce significantly higher tensions. The reasons for these differences are investigated. The minimum line tension safety factors required by design codes do not distinguish between uncoupled and coupled dynamic analyses and some codes use the same factors even for quasi-static analyses. Consequently, the present mooring system passes the acceptance criteria based on quasistatic frequency domain and uncoupled dynamic time domain analyses but does not meet the same criteria when a coupled dynamic time domain analysis is employed. It is understood that because the coupled time domain analysis determines the vessel motions using all forces the accuracy of mooring line tension estimation will be improved over other methods. Hence the application of less conservative safety factors is proposed.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3606
Author(s):  
Jing-Yuan Lin ◽  
Chuan-Ting Chen ◽  
Kuan-Hung Chen ◽  
Yi-Feng Lin

Three-phase wye–delta LLC topology is suitable for voltage step down and high output current, and has been used in the industry for some time, e.g., for server power and EV charger. However, no comprehensive circuit analysis has been performed for three-phase wye–delta LLC. This paper provides complete analysis methods for three-phase wye–delta LLC. The analysis methods include circuit operation, time domain analysis, frequency domain analysis, and state–plane analysis. Circuit operation helps determine the circuit composition and operation sequence. Time domain analysis helps understand the detail operation, equivalent circuit model, and circuit equation. Frequency domain analysis helps obtain the curve of the transfer function and assists in circuit design. State–plane analysis is used for optimal trajectory control (OTC). These analyses not only can calculate the voltage/current stress, but can also help design three-phase wye-delta connected LLC and provide the OTC control reference. In addition, this paper uses PSIM simulation to verify the correctness of analysis. At the end, a 5-kW three-phase wye–delta LLC prototype is realized. The specification of the prototype is a DC input voltage of 380 V and output voltage/current of 48 V/105 A. The peak efficiency is 96.57%.


Author(s):  
Spiro J. Pahos ◽  
Georgina Maldonado ◽  
Paul C. Westlake

Abstract Traditionally mooring line strength assessment is based on a deterministic approach, where the mooring system is evaluated for a design environment defined by a return period. The mooring system response is then checked against the mooring strength to ensure a required factor of safety. Some codes adopt a deterministic approach [1], [2], [3]. Other codes like [4] adopt a partial safety factor format where uncertainties are addressed through load factors for load components and material factors for line strength. Industry practices give guidance on mooring analysis methodology together with analysis options like coupled, de-coupled, time domain, frequency domain and the associated line tension safety factors. Prior work has demonstrated that discrepancies in mooring line tensions are observed when different analytical approaches are used [5]. Namely, the mooring line tensions of a semi-submersible unit in a coupled time domain analysis, were found to be non-compliant, whereas those calculated using a decoupled time domain analysis returned compliant tensions. This work focuses on a coupled dynamic analysis where all inertial, hydrodynamic and mechanical forces are assessed to determine the subsequent motions. Despite being considered the most accurate to capture the true dynamic response, a coupled analysis is also the least efficient in terms of the required computer resources and engineering effort [1]. This paper presents further discussion on the above observation in mooring tensions and also considers differences in the installation’s excursion. All responses are evaluated in the time domain where the nonlinear dynamic behavior of the mooring lines, slowly varying wave drift forces and coupling effects are captured. Agreement is found in the present computations, carried out with two renowned hydrodynamic codes, which validate former results and reiterate the need to distinguish between time domain methods and recommended appropriate safety factors accordingly.


1994 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Goh

The convergence of learning control is traditionally analyzed in the time domain. This is because a finite planning horizon is often assumed and the analysis in time domain can be extended to time-varying and nonlinear systems. For linear time-invariant (LTI) systems with infinite planning horizon, however, we show that simple frequency domain techniques can be used to quickly derive several interesting results not amenable to time-domain analysis, such as predicting the rate of convergence or the design of optimum learning control law. We explain a paradox arising from applying the finite time convergence criterion to the infinite time learning control problem, and propose the use of current error feedback for controlling possibly unstable systems.


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