Abstract
The numerical hydroelastic method is used to study the structural response of a hexagon enclosed platform (HEP) of flexible module rigid connector (FMRC) structure that can provide life accommodation, ship berthing and marine supply for ships sailing in the deep ocean. Six trapezoidal floating structures constitute the HEP structure so that it is a symmetrical very large floating structure (VLFS). The HEP has the characteristics of large area and small depth, so its hydroelastic response is significant. Therefore, this paper studies the structural responses of a hexagon enclosed platform of FMRC structure in waves by means of a 3D potential-flow hydroelastic method based on modal superposition. Numerical models, including the hydrodynamic model, wet surface model and finite element method (FEM) model, are established, a rigid connection is simulated by many-point-contraction (MPC) and the number of wave cases is determined. The load and structural response of HEP are obtained and analyzed in all wave cases, and frequency-domain hydroelastic calculation and time-domain hydroelastic calculation are carried out. After obtaining a number of response amplitude operators (RAOs) for stress and time-domain stress histories, the mechanism of the HEP structure is compared and analyzed. This study is used to guide engineering design for enclosed-type ocean platforms.
Highlights
Very large floating structures (VLFSs) are artificial sea land, which could be described as huge plates floating on the sea
The results show that when the resonance frequencies of the first 12-order wet structure of the two models are similar in the fluid medium, the rigid module flexible connector (RMFC) model calculated by the 3D potential flow theory can accurately predict the structural response and connector load
Because a VLFS has the characteristics of larger horizontal size and lower overall stiffness, 3D hydroelasticity becomes a critical theory to study the structural response of VLFSs in waves
Summary
Very large floating structures (VLFSs) are artificial sea land, which could be described as huge plates floating on the sea. Wu Yousheng et al [21,22,23] proposed 3D nonlinear hydroelasticity theory and numerical methods to analyze the dynamic response of large-scale moving floating structures in high sea conditions. It is necessary to design an HEP to provide accommodation, berthing and replenishment for many ocean-going ships, and one that is very large in size, so it is classified as a VLFS Up to now, this regular hexagonal VLFS has not yet been discussed and studied, and the heteromorphic shape of a VLFS as a HEP structure has different loads and unique response characteristics, which present a complex and advanced fluid–structure hydroelastic problem, so it is necessary to study hydroelasticity for the HEP structure. This study is used to guide engineering design for the symmetrical kind of enclosed-type ocean platform
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