Development of Quasi-static Analysis Program for Catenary Mooring System using OpenFOAM

Abstract

Generally, global performance analysis in offshore platforms is performed using potential-based numerical tools, which neglect hydrodynamic viscous effects. In comparison with the potential theory, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods can take into account the viscous effects by solving the Navier-Stokes equation using the finite-volume method. The open-source field operation and manipulation (OpenFOAM) C++ libraries are employed for a finite volume method (FVM) numerical analysis. In this study, in order to apply CFD to the global performance analysis of a hull-mooring coupled system, we developed a numerical wave basin to analyze the global performance problem of a floating body with a catenary mooring system under regular wave conditions. The mooring system was modeled using a catenary equation and solved in a quasi-static condition, which excluded the dynamics of the mooring lines such as the inertia and drag effects. To demonstrate the capability of the numerical basin, the global performance of a barge with four mooring lines was simulated under regular wave conditions. The simulation results were compared to the analysis results from a commercial mooring analysis program, Orcaflex. The comparison included the motion of the barge, catenary shape, and tension in the mooring lines. The study found good agreement between the results from the developed CFD-based numerical calculation and commercial software.