A Finite Element Solution of Wave Forces on Submerged Horizontal Circular Cylinders

In this paper, a numerical model is established for estimating the wave forces on a submerged horizontal circular cylinder. For predicting the wave motion, a set of two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations is solved numerically with a finite element method. In order to track the moving non-linear wave surface boundary, the Navier-Stokes equations are discretized in a moving mesh system. After each computational time step, the mesh is modified according to the changed wave surface boundary. In order to stabilize the numerical procedure, a three-step finite element method is applied in the time integration. The water sloshing in a tank and wave propagation over a submerged bar are simulated for the first time to validate the present model. The computational results agree well with the analytical solution and the experimental data.Finally, the model is applied to the simulation of interaction between waves and a submerged horizontal circular cylinder.The effects of the KC number and the cylinder depth on the wave forces are studied.     

Evalution of Application of p-y Curve Method in Offshore Engineering Foundation

- Based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure principle and Rankine's theory, the laterally loaded pile ultimate resistance formulas of sand and soft clay proposed by Reese and Matlock respectively are discussed in this paper. The authors put forward the modified ultimate resistance formulas on the basis of which the ultimate resistance formula is developed for horizontally loaded pile in multi-layer soil in consideration of the effect of the overburden soil pressure on the calculation of soil layer. It is significant to the correct application of the ultimate resistance formulas in API and ZCS Rules into offshore engineering.     

Experimental Investigation on Durability of Reinforced Concrete Beams in A Simulated Marine Environment

1. IntroductionConcrete is widely used for nearshore and offshore marine structures and bridges (Song et al.,2000; Wang and Song, 2004). Experience has shown that the durability of marine concrete structuresis generally good; however, some cases of serious deterioration also exist due to the lack of durability(Metha and Gerwick, 1982). Under marine conditions, concrete, especially concrete in the splashand tidal zone, is attacked, resulting in corrosion of reinforcing bars. Corrosion of rein…     

The New Form of Time-Dependent Mild Slope Equation for Random Waves

The mild-slope equation derived by Berkhoff (1972), has widely been used in the numerical calculation of refraction and diffraction of regular waves. However, it is well known that the random sea waves has a significant effect in the refraction and diffraction problems. In this paper, a new form of time-dependent mild slope equation for irregular waves was derived with Fade approximation and Kubo's time series concept. The equation was simplified using WKB method, and simple and practical irregular mild slope equation was obtained. Results of numerical calculations are compared with those of laboratory experiments.     

Groupiness of Sea Waves and Their Characteristic Parameters

Three methods for studying wave groups and their main parameters for describing wave groupiness are reviewed in this paper. Then they are analyzed and compared combined with field data from both aspects of group height and group length. A method and two parameters that can describe wave groupiness are suggested. The groupiness parameters of sea waves at three field stations are given. The effects of groupiness on both distributions of the wave height and the phase of component waves are investigated. The effects of datum length on the calculated value of grouping parameters are also discussed.     

Torsionally Coupled Response Control of Offshore Platform Structures Using Circular Tuned Liquid Column Dampers

In this paper, the control performance is investigated of Circular Tuned Liquid Column Dampers (CTLCD) over torsional response of offshore platform structures excited by ground motions. Based on the equation of motion for the CTLCD-structure system, the optimal control parameters of CTLCD are given through some derivations on the supposition that the ground motion is a stochastic process. The influence of systematic parameters on the equivalent damping ratio of the structures is analyzed with purely torsional vibration and translational-torsional coupled vibration, respectively, The results show that the Circular Tuned Liquid Column Damper (CTLCD) is an effective torsional response control device.     

The Lift Forces Acting on a Submarine Composite Pipeline in a Wave-Current Coexisting Field

- A composite pipeline is defined as a main big pipe composed of one or several small pipes. The flow behaviour around a submarine composite pipeline is more complicated than that around a single submarine pipeline. A series model test of composite pipelines in a wave-current coexisting field was conducted by the authors. Both in-line and lift forces were measured, and the resultant forces were also analyzed. The results of lift forces and resultant forces are reported in this paper. It is found that the lift force coefficients for composite pipelines are well related to the KC number. The lift force coefficients for an irregular wave-current coexisting field are smaller than those for a regular wave-current coexisting field. The frequency of lift force is usually twice the wave frequency or higher. The authors test indicates that the resultant forces are about 10 to 20 percent larger than in-line forces (horizontal forces). The effect of water depth is analyzed. Finally, the relationship between lift f     

Finite Element Method for Design of Reinforced Concrete Offshore Platforms

A design method of reinforced concrete (R. C.) offshore platforms with nonlinear finite element analysis is proposed. According to the method, a computer program is developed. In this program nonlinear constitutive relationships and strength criteria of concrete and steel bars are included, and the progressive cracking and crushing of the concrete are taken into account. Based on the stress distribution obtained by the nonlinear finite element analysis, the amount of reinforcement in the control sections can be computed and adjusted automatically by the program to satisfy the requirement of the design. The amount of reinforcement required in the control sections, which are obtained with the nonlinear finite element analysis, is agreeable to that obtained in the experiment. This shows that the design method of R. C. offshore platform with the nonlinear finite element method proposed by the authors is reliable for practical use.     

Multilevel Optimal Design of Prestressed Lightweight Concrete-Steel Platform Structures

The concrete-steel platform structure is rather complicated because it involves such materials as concrete, reinforcing bars, steel, and so on. K the traditional dimension optimization method is employed, the optimal design of the platform will meet many handicaps, even it cannot be implemented at all. The multilevel optimal design approach is an efficient tool for the solution of large-scale engineering structures. In this paper, this approach is applied to the optimal design of a concrete-steel platform, which is formulated as a system level optimal design problem and a set of uncoupled substructure level optimal design problems. The process of optimization is a process of iteration between system level and substructure level until the objective function converges. An illustrative example indicates that this method is effective in the optimal design of concrete-steel platforms.     

Numerical Wave Channel with Absorbing Wave-Maker

The numerical wave channel has been developed based on the volume of fluid method (VOF) in conjunction with the Navier-Stokes equations. The absorbing wave-maker boundary on the left side of the channel is presented by prescribing velocity reference to linear wave-maker theory. The principle of which is that the numerical wave-maker is designed to move in a way that generates the required incident wave and cancels out any reflected wave that reach it at the same time. On the right side of the channel, the open boundary is set to permit incident waves to be transmitted freely. The parametric studies have been carried out at a range of ratios of water depth to wave length d/ L from 0.124 to 0.219, with wave height in the front of paddle/water depth ratio (H0 / d) from 0.1 to 0.3. Wave height, wave pressure distribution along the channel and velocity field are obtained for both open boundary condition and reflective boundary condition at the other end of the channel. For a reflective case, it is shown that