Evaluation of long-term extreme response statistics of jack-up platforms

This paper is concerned with the models appropriate for the dynamic assessment of jack-ups, concentrating particularly on the long-term response due to random ocean waves and on work-hardening plasticity models used for spud-can response. A methodology for scaling of short-term statistics, calculated using a Constrained NewWave technique, is shown in a numerical experiment for an example jack-up and central North Sea location. The difference in long-term extreme response statistics due to various footing assumptions is emphasised. Results for two environmental load conditions are described (one excluding and one including wind and current effects) and the role of sea-state severity in the variation of short-term extreme response statistics is also highlighted.     

Wave diffraction and near-trapping by a multi-column gravity-based structure

This paper is concerned with the diffraction of water waves by offshore structures, with the ultimate aim of proposing tools for guiding airgap design. The diffraction of monochromatic waves by an array of four bottom mounted cylinders and a gravity-based structure is studied in detail using linear and second order theory. The phenomenon of near-trapping is investigated, allowing guidelines for airgap design to be established. When contemplating airgap design, however, it is crucially important that consideration is given to the largest waves in a sea state. Therefore, in this study a design wave, called NewWave, is proposed as a realistic model for large ocean waves and is used as the incident wave field in the wave-structure diffraction analysis.     

Probabilistic Methods for Reliability Assessment of Floating Structures Based on Extreme Wave Simulation

With the increasing application of floating platforms in deep waters and harsh environments,a proper assessment of the reliability of floating structures is important to ensure that these structures can operate safely during their design lives.This study outlines a practical methodology for reliability analysis of a semi-submersible platform based estimating the probability distribution of the extreme response in rough sea conditions(survival conditions).The Constrained NewWave(CNW)theory combined with Monte Carlo simulations was first applied to simulate the random wave surface elevation process in the time domain.A Gumbel distribution was the best fitting to describe the dynamically sensitive extreme response statistics under extreme waves(drift and mooring tension).The derived probability distribution of the extreme response was subsequently used in estimation of the associated limit state func-tion,and a reliability analysis of the floating structure was conducted using the Monte Carlo method.A semi-submersible platform in a water depth of 1500 m subjected to extreme wave loads was used to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology.The probability of failure of the semi-submersible when considering mooring lines tension is greater than considering drift.     

Performance of an example jack-up platform under directional random ocean waves

This article presents the results of nonlinear dynamic analyses that explore the effects of directionality and the random nature of ocean waves on the overall structural performance of a sample jack-up platform. A finite-element model is developed which rigorously includes the effects of the material and geometrical nonlinearities in the structure and the nonlinear soil-structure interaction. Two wave theories, NewWave and Constrained NewWave, are adopted to simulate the water surface and water particle kinematics, which are implemented in the numerical model developed. Analyses are performed for both two and three-dimensional wave models, and the results are compared in terms of the deck and spudcan foundation displacements. The results obtained from the analyses indicate that the inclusion of wave spreading can result in reductions in the deck displacements of the sample jack-up platform. The level of reduction is greater when considerable plasticity occurs in the foundation. Furthermore, the probability of failure can be significantly decreased when the wave-spreading effects are included. In addition, it is shown that the effects of wave-spreading on the response and failure of the sample jack-up is increased when wave period is decreased.     

基于三维约束NewWave理论的自升式钻井平台动力响应分析

以某122 m自升式钻井平台为分析对象,建立其有限元模型,包括材料非线性、几何非线性以及桩土非线性相互作用,在风浪流作用下,基于三维约束New Wave理论对自升式钻井平台的动态响应进行分析,研究海洋波浪方向传播特性和随机特性对平台动力响应的影响。在建立模型中实现风暴工况下水面高程和水粒子运动的描述,响应结果按甲板位移进行对比。结果表明,相比其它波浪理论,三维约束New Wave理论在平台动力响应分析中体现了一定的优越性,不仅能较准确地反映波浪的真实特性,而且能确保结构性能评估的安全性和合理性。