Modal state vectors of a free-hanging drilling riser during deployment and retrieval

Abstract

To prevent marine risers' resonance and eliminate potential threats, sufficient inherent dynamic characteristics such as natural frequency, modal displacement, slope, bending moment, and shear are necessary to be calculated and analyzed. However, most studies calculate the natural frequencies and modal displacements directly rather than the modal slopes and forces. The additional calculations of modal slopes and forces likely result in issue complications, time-consuming, or even errors especially when the boundaries at both ends are solved by a finite difference method. To solve the above problems, a state-vector approach is developed herein based on the precise integration method. Two traditional methods, i.e., differential transformation method and finite element method, are utilized to verify the validation of the approach. The modal state vectors of a marine drilling riser, i.e., not only modal displacements but also modal slopes, bending moments, and shears, are studied in detail under four classic cases according to the hard and soft hang-off modes and the deployment and retrieval processes. Besides, the natural frequencies versus the riser suspension lengths are investigated during the deployment and retrieval. The critical resonance suspension lengths of the riser are discussed via a double-peaked sea irregular wave spectrum. Based on the analyses presented in this study and their generic findings, powerful tools can be designed to prevent riser resonance and associated threats in operation.