Arne Nestegård

Challenges in Wave Force Modelling for Mooring Design in High Seas

(18/11/2019) Challenges in wave force modelling for mooring design in high seas Line breakage events have been experienced on moored structures during recent years. These are often occurring in heavy weather and overload is one of the reasons pointed out. The present paper identifies posible physical phenomena that may lead to wave forces higher than predicted by state-of-the-art hydrodynamic tools and procedures, and thereby higher mooring lineloads, in high and steep waves. In particular, a need to re-explore wave-group induced slowly varying, low-frequency (LF)drift forces has been identified. Both mobile offshore units (MODU’s) and permanently moored floaters are considered, semisubmersibles and FPSOs. Empirical corrections are sometimes being applied in design of mooring lines, while not ingeneral, and there is no established common industry practice on such corrections. More advanced tools and knowledge do exist in research communities, while they still need further development for robust engineering use. A brief overview is given of state-of-the-art methods and tools in modelling of the hydrodynamic forces on large-volume floaters, with particular focus on slowly varying wave forces. Full scale experiences from real sea events and from a variety of earlier case studies including model tests are reviewed. It is found that several items may be critical in the proper prediction of LF wave forces in high seas and combined current and should be investigated further, in particular: Wave-current interaction Viscous wave drift forces Large and nonlinear wave -frequency vessel motions. Based upon these preliminary investigations, the paper gives recommendations for actions and further developments for improved predictions in industry practice. Copyright 2015, Offshore Technology Conference

Second-Order Kinematics Underneath Irregular Waves

The present paper is concerned with the prediction of horizontal velocities underneath measured irregular wave surface elevations. The simple case of unidirectional waves in deep water is considered. The main challenge in calculating accurately the kinematics in the crest region is related to the treatment of the contribution from wave components with frequencies much higher than the frequencies near the spectral peak. When using linear or weakly nonlinear perturbation methods, the wave components are superimposed at the still water level and it is necessary to truncate the tail of the spectrum in order to calculate accurately the velocity in the crest region.In the present paper, results from three methods of calculating the crest kinematics are compared with the model test results of Skjelbreia et al. [1]:• The second-order model of Stansberg et al. [5] which truncates consistently the high frequency part of the spectrum.• The second-order model of Johannessen [13] which calculates the velocity directly at the instantaneous free surface.• The Wheeler [3] stretching method which stretches the linear velocity profile from the still water level to the instantaneous free surface.In addition to comparing the horizontal velocity profiles underneath the crest, time traces of horizontal velocity is compared at the free surface in the vicinity of a large crest. The latter comparison highlights the differences between the models and the challenge of accurate predictions close to top of crest. All three models show a reasonable agreement with model test results although it is clear that the first two methods are superior to the Wheeler method.© 2013 ASME

Statistical Methods for Prediction of Characteristic Loads for Free Fall Lifeboats Based on CFD Screening Results

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used in a screening process to calculate characteristic loads for a Free Fall Lifeboat (FFLB) during impact and submergence. The link between various input, e.g. environmental conditions and host specific data, resulting structural loads and motion of the lifeboat is explored. The screening can be used together with host specific environmental conditions to find structural design loads and motion restrictions.Response based analysis have been developed for both short term and long term predictions. For the short term predictions a sea state given by (Hs, Tp) on the 100-year contour line is identified and a three hour irregular sea state is simulated. This time history of surface elevations is used for a large number of random lifeboat drops. From these random drops a distribution of wave height and corresponding wave steepness is derived which is then input to an interpolation in the database of CFD screening results. The resulting responses are fitted to a Weibull distribution and the 90% quantile in this short term load distribution is determined.The long term response analysis is further developed from the short term analysis. The short term distributions for each (Hs, Tp) are combined with the probability of occurrence of the sea state, and long term distributions are derived for the responses similar to the short term analysis.The screening results are used to identify critical load cases which are further investigated.Copyright

Hydrodynamic Coefficients for Straked Risers

A considerable challenge in deep water field developments is the possibility of Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) of flexible risers due to presence of high currents. The most common remedy is the use of VIV suppression devices such as helical strakes.The background for this study is the lack of guidelines for estimation of hydrodynamic force coefficients for straked risers. In particular there seems to be no publicly available experimental data on tangential force coefficients for straked risers. Analyses indicate that tangential drag may be important for compliant steel risers, e.g. SCRs and steel lazy-waves risers on high-motion platforms in harsh environments. For large vertical motion of the platform there will be a substantial tangential relative velocity along the riser. Adding strakes to the riser will then effectively increase the tangential drag.Simplified formulations for hydrodynamic coefficients for straked risers have been derived, including added mass and drag coefficients for both normal and tangential flow. The simplified formulations are derived from basic hydrodynamic theory without experimental calibration except for the drag coefficients for normal flow where the proposed drag coefficients are empirical based on experiments reported in the literature.An example of a global analysis of straked risers in deep water is presented to demonstrate the effect of tangential drag. Derived formulas for hydrodynamic coefficients to be used in global analysis of straked risers will be implemented in DNV GL Recommended Practices.Copyright

Prediction of Irregular Motions of Free-Fall Lifeboats During Drops From Damaged FPSO

A Free Fall Lifeboat (FFLB) which is evacuating from a damaged host in storm conditions must to be able to safely run away from the host. For a safe evacuation, the FFLB must first of all avoid irregular motion (“log dive”), and secondly resurface at a sufficient distance away from host (headway) to be able to run away. The design standard [1] requires a controlled motion trajectory for the FFLB in waves.A drop simulator for random drops of FFLBs from a floating host in storm conditions, intact or damaged has been developed. Time histories of the host motions are generated and random drops of the FFLBs are done during three hour duration of each sea state. The FFLB point of impact in the wave is identified and the local wave height, wave length and hit point in the wave cycle is found for each of the impact points.A structured database with results from a large number of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations has been made for a specific FFLB. In this CFD screening process the lifeboat has been dropped with variations in wind and waves, as well as varying conditions of host during launch. This database forms the basis for a regression analysis used to estimate responses for each drop of free fall lifeboat found from the drop simulator.The present study proposes a definition and a method to identify irregular motions for FFLBs, and this definition is used as a motion indicator in the regression analysis. By using the proposed motion indicator, the regression analysis provides percentage of acceptable vs. non-acceptable motion trajectories for a given intact or damaged host during a storm condition. The worst conditions are found, and can be used for further analysis of headway, i.e. the ability of the FFLB to escape from the host after resurfacing.Copyright