Practical stochastic fatigue analysis of offshore platforms

A method for stochastic fatigue analysis of offshore platforms is presented. The method accounts for the nonlinearity in the drag loading term, and for the systematic deviation from a Gaussian process for a platform response. The method is based on an assumed form of the stress response process at a hot spot. A number of full scale measurements for elements in fixed platforms and for marine risers show very good agreement with this assumed form. A conventional spectral fatigue approach with stochastic linearization of the drag term in the basis for the new method, which uses results from linearizations in two or more sea states. The method is easily implemented in standard computer programs presently used within the offshore oil industry for fatigue analysis.     

On response of structures to random waves

The solution to the non-linear, stochastic, ordinary differential equation governing the dynamic response of offshore structures to random waves, hitherto achieved by the statistical equivalent linearization method, is approached in a different manner. It is shown that the correlation function of the response is governed by a non-linear integral equation which can be solved successively. To the first order of approximation, the solution coincides with that of the statistical equivalent linearization method. This equation is solved up to the second order.     

海洋平台磁流变阻尼器控制技术研究

为了更有效地减小海洋平台动力响应,采用基于模糊控制算法的磁流变阻尼器对海洋平台的振动进行控制.以海洋平台位移响应误差和误差变化为输入变量,以最优控制力为输出变量,优化设计出模糊控制器.考虑实际磁流变阻尼器输出控制力上限存在限制,采用半主动控制算法计算接近于最优控制力的半主动控制力.以一固定式海洋平台为算例研究磁流变阻尼器的振动控制效果及其模糊性,仿真结果表明模糊磁流变控制器对于平台的振动可以实现非常有效的控制,且控制效果对结构阻尼和环境的不确定性具有较好的模糊性.     

Initial post-buckling of submerged slender vertical structures subjected to distributed axial tension

This paper proposes an analytical solution for determining the initial post-buckling behaviour of submerged slender vertical steel structures. These structures may have significant bending stiffness and self-weight so that the axial force varies linearly from one end to the other. Such structures constitute main components of drilling and production platforms used for the offshore exploitation of hydrocarbons. An understanding of their structural behaviour after buckling offers opportunities for cost reduction and design optimisation. The initial post-buckling behaviour is evaluated by retaining non-linear curvature terms and using an expansion in series to reduce the governing equation to a set of linear ordinary fourth order differential equations, which are then solved sequentially by power series functions. The paper also presents results from buckling and non-linear large deflection finite element analyses. The numerical results validate and establish a range of application for the analytical formulation. This solution technique is employed to explore the behaviour of slender structures dominated by geometrical (tension) or flexural stiffness.     

圆柱形沉浮式深海养殖网箱的受力分析

应用一系列力学关系，研究了深海圆柱形沉浮式养殖网箱所承受的波浪力情况。导出深海沉浮式养殖网箱的运动方程，并给出数值计算。在网箱波浪力的研究中采用绕射理论和Morison方程，讨论了在波高、波长及周期变化下水动力的变化趋势，得出网箱所受到的水平波浪力远大于竖直波浪力，波高的变化对波浪力的影响最大的结论，为深海网箱的设计校核提供1种参考方法。     

Expected fatigue damage and expected extreme response for Morison-type wave loading

Non-linear probability distributions for Morison-type wave loading are used to indicate the effect of drag forces on the expected fatigue damage and the expected extreme response of quasi-statically responding (members of) offshore structures. Results are compared with those from commonly used equivalent linear methods of analysis. It is found that the expected fatigue damage and the expected extreme response based on non-linear methods are approximately equal to results from linear methods when inertia is the dominant force. However, in the event of the drag forces forming a considerable part of the total wave loading, both fatigue damage and extreme response can significantly exceed those predicted by linear methods. The difference between the two methods is quantified in terms of a drag-inertia parameter, which is directly related to the sea state under consideration.     

随机波浪荷载作用下海洋平台的前馈-反馈振动控制研究

该文研究线性前馈 -反馈控制策略对海洋平台振动控制的有效性。线性前馈 -反馈控制只有当输入荷载为白噪声过程时 ,所实施的控制才是最优的 ,因此该文采用一白噪声过程通过滤波器来近似随机波浪力谱 ,并将海洋平台 -主动控制系统的动力学方程转化为符合随机最优控制要求的增广状态空间表达形式。依据设计目标中对安全性以及经济性的权衡 ,通过使二次型控制目标函数最小化 ,推导出了随机最优控制力的计算方法 ,从而实现了最优控制的目的。在频率域上分析了海洋平台受控后的振动响应 ,结合典型的海洋天然气生产平台算例 ,将前馈 -反馈控制与反馈控制、TMD控制加以比较 ,总结了前馈 -反馈控制的特点及其优越性     

Force resultants for deep-water wave-excited offshore structures

Concepts are developed which lead to an improved understanding of the characteristics of the wave forces that act on deep-water, jacket-type offshore structures. These concepts are the result of comprehensive examinations of both the inertia and the drag force components of the wave excitation. It is shown that, under conditions which are of practical importance, the resultants of the inertia and drag force components can both be expressed in terms of the motion of the sea surface. Fundamental modal forces which govern fundamental modal responses for offshore structures are also examined, and the relationships between these modal forces and the resultants of the inertia and drag force components are established. The structural response itself is further examined, and valuable information is developed which is believed to be of practical importance.     

极端海洋环境对海洋平台疲劳寿命的影响

基于渤海和南海的海洋平台设计环境条件,分析了近年来我国近海极端海洋环境条件的发生规律及其对海洋平台疲劳设计条件的冲击。采用Miner’s线性累积疲劳损伤准则和疲劳可靠性理论,研究了极端海况引起的疲劳损伤对海洋平台疲劳寿命的影响,提出了考虑极端海洋环境条件的海洋平台疲劳设计方法。研究表明,由于近年来全球气候变换带来的极端气象条件频发,导致海洋工程结构经历传统意义上的多年一遇海洋环境条件的概率大大增加,使得现行的海洋平台疲劳设计条件偏离了实际的海洋环境条件。数值算例表明,极端海况引起的疲劳损伤在总的疲劳损伤的比例大大增加,甚至成为疲劳损伤的主要部分。因此,这些极端海况引起的疲劳损伤对结构疲劳寿命的影响不容忽略,考虑极端海洋环境条件的海洋平台疲劳设计符合近年来的灾害性海况频发的现状。     

Wind and wave induced behaviour of offshore guyed tower platforms

Offshore guyed tower platforms belong to the group of compliant offshore platforms which are most suited for deep water exploration. The basic feature of compliant offshore platforms is that they are designed to move with the waves, in at least some degrees-of-freedom. As far as excitation of wave frequencies is concerned, the system opposes wave forces by inertial effects. The offshore guyed tower derives its stability against lateral movement from its mooring system.In this study, the response of offshore guyed towers to random forces generated by wind and wave is investigated. The exposed portion of the tower is subjected to the action of turbulent wind, while the submerged portion is acted upon by random wave forces. The analysis includes the nonlinearities due to the Morison equation of drag force, the variable submergence effect due to waves, the instantaneous position of the tower and force excursion relation of the mooring lines. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the behaviour of the tower under waves, and the combined effect of wind and wave forces.     

随机波浪作用下海洋平台主动控制的时滞补偿研究

基于预测控制理论，研究了适用于海洋平台的时滞补偿控制算法。该方法借助于随机波浪力的近似公式和卡尔曼滤波原理，推导出了随机波浪力向前一步预测公式，同时采用卡尔曼滤波方程，实现了对状态向量向前一步预测。利用随机波浪力及状态向量的实时在线预测公式，推导出最优控制力向前一步预测的表达式。在此基础上，发展了不仅适用于反馈控制系统而且适用于前馈-反馈控制系统的时滞补偿算法。采用一典型海洋平台为数值算例，计算结果表明，该方法在一定时滞范围内对海洋平台主动控制中时滞的补偿效果是显著的。     

Non-linear restoring forces of an offshore platform

The method of calculation of non-linear restoring forces presented in this paper is simple, concise and feasible to apply easily in the calculation of restoring forces of platforms in order to simulate motion responses of offshore platforms in the time-domain. In this method, hydrostatic restoring forces and moments are related to the translational and/or rotational displacements. Calculations of non-linear yaw, roll and pitch restoring moments are based on the catenary type of moorings. Although the method presented here is a simple one, it is capable of the calculation of restoring forces for use in the time-domain motion simulations of offshore platforms, with an acceptable degree of accuracy when the numerical simulation results were compared with the experimental measurements.     

A new approach for predicting the extreme response of structures

In this article a method to estimate the mean upcrossing intensity, μ(u), of a stochastic process is proposed. It is assumed that the stochastic process is a sum of a Gaussian process and a second-order correction term. The method is based on the two-dimensional Saddlepoint approximation. The accuracy of the method is tested on processes having analytical solutions for μ(u). Numerical examples are given where the stochastic process represents (i) the horizontal response of a floating offshore structure in a Gaussian sea, and (ii) the response of a structure subjected to a Gaussian wind velocity process. In addition, the estimates are compared to empirical upcrossing intensities of simulated responses. For case (ii), the obtained μ(u) estimates are compared to estimates obtained by numerical integration.     

Time-domain simulation of large-amplitude response of floating platforms

Two numerical simulation models to predict large-amplitude motions of floating platforms are presented. The first method is based on the application of the relative-velocity formulation of Morison's equation for force calculations. The second method developed in this work uses the three-dimensional potential theory in time domain. In this method, both the Froude-Krylov and scattering forces are calculated by considering finite wave amplitude effects in random waves. The effect of various nonlinearities on the low-frequency motions and high-frequency tether-tension response of a tension leg platform are studied using these simulation models in conjunction with power spectral methods. The presence of current and the nonlinear drag force are observed to have a significant effect on the low-frequency motions and tether tensions.     

Frequency domain analysis of dynamic response of drag dominated offshore structures

The paper describes a method for stochastic representation of the hydrodynamic drag forces on offshore structures subjected to irregular waves. It is shown that, for the case of zero current, it is possible to construct a genuinely quadratic representation of the drag force which reproduces the statistical properties of the standard formulation of the drag force very closely, and which at the same time has sufficient flexibility to ensure a spectral density that accurately approximates the desired force spectrum. The distinct advantage of the new representation is that it brings dynamic analysis of extensive linear structures back into the frequency domain.     

Seismic amplifications from offshore to shore

The objective of this study is to determine numerical estimations of seismic amplifications of waves traveling from offshore to shore considering the effect of sea floor configurations. According to the Boundary Element Method, boundary elements were used to irradiate waves and density force can be determined for each element. From this hypothesis, Huygens’ Principle is implemented since diffracted waves are constructed at the boundary from which they are radiated and this is equivalent to Somigliana's theorem. Application of boundary conditions leads to determine a system of integral equations of Fredholm type of second kind, which is solved by the Gaussian method. Various numerical models were analyzed, a first one was used to validate the proposed formulation and some other models were used to show various ideal sea floor configurations to estimate seismic amplifications. Once the formulation was validated, basic slope configurations were studied for estimating spectra of seismic amplifications for various sea floor materials. In general terms, compressional waves (P-waves) can produce seismic amplifications of the incident wave in the order of 2–5. On the other hand, distortional waves (S-waves) can produce amplifications up to 5.5 times the incident wave. A relevant finding is that the highest seismic amplifications due to an offshore earthquake are always located near the shore-line and not offshore despite the seafloor configuration.     

海洋平台输液管道振动流特性研究

该文研究了海洋平台输液管道振动流的行为特性。依据振荡流体力学基本原理 ,建立了输液管道非定常、不可压缩、粘性振动流的物理模型和数学模型。推导出了关于流场速度、压力系数的微分方程组 ,得到了不同条件下流动的速度和压力分布。结果表明流体诱发的海洋平台输液管道振动流的行为特性受管道结构形状及流体性质的影响。比较等截面管道的变分解和数值解 ,说明本文所选用的方法用于研究海洋平台输液管道振动流是有效的。     

深海平台系缆形状和张力分析

考虑海底地形的变化、系缆的拉伸形变及海流力等因素,研究了深海平台系缆形状和张力分析方法采用集中质量法,得到系缆方程组,采用牛顿法求解该非线性系缆方程组,建立系缆形状和张力的计算方法。计算了平坦海底和海底地形凹凸变化时水深1 018 m情况下的系缆形状、系泊张力和浮体平衡位置。计算结果表明,海底地形对于深海系泊系统张力影响较大,而计算系缆形状和张力、系泊浮体的运动时,需要考虑海底地形的影响。     

Passive control of offshore jacket platforms

The wave-induced dynamic force is one of the most important excitations to be dealt with in the design of offshore structures. In order to perform a reliable design of an offshore structure, it is important to obtain an exact evaluation of its dynamic response but also to examine the ways of reducing the response. This paper presents the response of offshore jacket platforms installed with energy dissipation devices such as viscoelastic, viscous and friction dampers under wave loading. The offshore jacket platforms are modeled as multi-degrees-of-freedom system provided with dampers at each floor location. The wave forces are modeled as per Morison's equation. The governing equations of motion of the jacket platform with dampers are derived and their solution in the frequency domain is presented. The uni-directional random wave loading is expressed by the Pierson-Muskowitz spectrum. The response of the jacket platform with viscoelastic, viscous and friction dampers is compared with the corresponding response without dampers in order to investigate the effectiveness of the passive control systems. It is observed that the additional dampers add substantial damping to structure and thus favorably control the response of platform structure. Among the various energy dissipation devices used for study, the viscoelastic dampers perform better in comparison to the other dampers. This is due to the fact that the added viscoelastic dampers contribute to increased viscous damping as well as lateral stiffness which reduces the response of the offshore jacket platforms significantly.     

The influence of wave-current sea states on the reliability estimates of offshore towers

Since offshore towers are high-cost, high-risk structures, reliability analysis is of great importance in their design. This paper presents a possible practical approach to certify a design through selective critical member reliability estimates. After a brief review of current research in this field, the authors outline a procedure for reliability estimation of structural members in extreme stress and fatigue limit states. A spectral approach for the extreme response statistics with stochastic loading is described. The reliabilities are computed by the Level II first-order second moment (advanced) method. The fatigue reliability is estimated with a narrow-banded stress assumption with discrete, but significant sea states within the life of the structure. Two numerical examples, a three shallow water model and a two-dimensional deep water model are presented along with the influences of stochastic variables (sea state, current, tubular member diameter) on reliabilities (extreme stress and fatigue damage).