Wave-induced Loads Research Articles

Influence of Damping Plate Size on Pitch Motion Response of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine

For floating offshore wind turbines, a significant pitch and roll motion response of the platform can affect the acceleration and power generation of the nacelle. The damping plate is considered a type of attachment that can be used to reduce rotational motion, but research on its anti-rotational effect is limited. The objective of this work is to analyze the impact of installing damping plates and varying their sizes on the pitch motion response of semi-submersible platforms, while also proposing optimization strategies for damping plate design. Firstly, a comparison between numerical simulations and experimental measurements validates the accuracy of the CFD calculations. Subsequently, different sizes of damping plates are proposed for the platforms, followed by simulations under various conditions. Finally, comprehensive data analysis is conducted. The findings suggest that installing damping plates enhances both the platform’s added moment of inertia and damping coefficients while simultaneously amplifying its motion response in regular waves. Furthermore, increasing the size of damping plates leads to an increase in both the added moment of inertia and motion response for the platform, whereas the damping coefficient exhibits an initial increasing trend followed by a subsequent decrease. Ultimately, it is found that increasing the distance between damping plates and the free surface significantly reduces wave-induced loads on the platform.

Prototype-scale laboratory observations of wave force reduction by an idealized mangrove forest of moderate cross-shore width

A prototype-scale physical model was used to study wave height attenuation through an idealized mangrove forest and the resulting reduction of wave forces and pressures on a vertical wall. An 18 m transect of a Rhizophora forest was constructed using artificial trees, considering a baseline and two mangrove stem density configurations. Wave heights seaward, throughout, and shoreward of the forest and pressures on a vertical wall landward of the forest were measured. Mangroves reduced wave-induced forces by 4%–43% for random waves and 2%–38% for regular waves. For nonbreaking wave cases, the shape of the pressure distribution was consistent, implying that the presence of the forest did not change wave-structure interaction processes. Analytical methods for determining nonbreaking wave-induced loads provided good estimations of measured values when attenuated wave heights were used in equations. The ratio of negative to positive force ranged between 0.14 and 1.04 for regular waves and 0.31 to 1.19 for random waves, indicating that seaward forces can be significant and may contribute to destabilization of seawalls during large storms. These results improve the understanding of wave-vegetation-structure interaction and inform future engineering guidelines for calculating expected design load reductions on structures sheltered by emergent vegetation.

Limit hypersurface state of the art Gaidai multivariate risk evaluation approach for offshore Jacket

Current study presents state of the art approach to risk and reliability assessment for multivariate nonlinear dynamic systems. Specifically, novel hypersurface Gaidai risks evaluation methodology has been presented for evaluating offshore structural risks. Advocated approach being particularly suitable for offshore engineering multidimensional dynamic systems, possessing large number of critical components, that have either been physically observed/measured, or numerically modeled over a representative timelapse. Advocated Gaidai hypersurface structural risks evaluation methodology is applicable for a wide range of engineering and industrial systems. This study demonstrates that given in situ environmental conditions, it is well possible to assess accurately risks of system’s failures, damages or hazards, caused by excessive structural dynamics. Multivariate dynamic systems, possessing nonlinear cross-correlations between critical system’s components often present design challenges, when utilizing classic structural risks evaluation approaches, as those are mostly only univariate or bivariate. Dynamic offshore Jacket hot spot stresses have been utilized as an example in this reliability investigation. Modeling system’s excessive dynamics is challenging because of the non-stationarity of the system and the intricacy of fluid-structural dynamic interactions, arising from in situ wave-induced loads, influencing Jacket’s structural dynamics. Nonlinearities greatly affect structural dynamics, e.g., 2nd, 3rd, higher order effects within fluid-structural interactions. Methodology presented in this work offers a straightforward, effective, yet precise means of assessing the risks of failure or hazard for multivariate, non-stationary, non-linear dynamic offshore systems. For bivariate case, verification note has been added.

FPSO/LNG hawser system lifetime assessment by Gaidai multivariate risk assessment method

Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit being an offshore vessel, storing and producing crude oil, prior to crude oil being transported by accompanying shuttle tanker. Critical mooring/hawser strains during offloading operation have to be accurately predicted, in order to maintain operational safety and reliability. During certain types of offloading, excessive hawser tensions may occur, causing operational risks. Current study examines FPSO vessel’s dynamic reactions to hydrodynamic wave-induced loads, given realistic in situ environmental conditions, utilizing the AQWA software package. Current study advocates novel multi-dimensional spatiotemporal risks assessment approach, that is particularly well suited for large dataset analysis, based on numerical simulations (or measurements). Advocated multivariate reliability methodology may be useful for a variety of marine and offshore systems that must endure severe environmental stressors during their intended operational lifespan. Methodology, presented in this study provides advanced capability to efficiently, yet accurately evaluate dynamic system failure, hazard and damage risks, given representative dynamic record of multidimensional system’s inter-correlated critical components. Gaidai risk assessment method being novel dynamic multidimensional system’s lifetime assessment methodology. In order to validate and benchmark Gaidai risk assessment method, in this study it was applied to FPSO and potentially LNG (i.e., Liquid Natural Gas) vessels dynamics. Major advantage of the advocated approach is that there are no existing alternative risk assessment methods, able to tackle unlimited number of system’s dimensions. Accurate multi-dimensional risk assessment had been carried out, based on numerically simulated data, partially verified by available laboratory experiments. Confidence intervals had been given for predicted dynamic high-dimensional system risk levels.

Experimental study on wave-induced loads and nonlinear effects for pier-pile group foundations of sea-crossing bridges: Wave slamming and suction effect

Strong nonlinear effects, such as wave slamming, suction effects, and wave overtopping, may be induced during wave-bridge interaction. However, an accurate understanding of these nonlinear effects is still insufficient. This study comprehensively investigates the wave slamming and suction effects on pier-pile group foundations of sea-crossing bridges in a 1:50 scale laboratory experiment. Random and regular waves with different strengths are generated based on wave conditions at the bridge site. Five water depths with a 2 cm spacing are designed to simulate varying pile cap clearances. Various pile arrangements are also set up to explore the influence of piles. Results show that wave slamming is low-aeration and is triggered mainly on the cap bottom wall, whereas the wave action on the vertical wall of the pile cap is quasi-static. The suction effect is generally recorded in the quasi-static phase of pressures and depends on the water exit process and the wave crest height. Moreover, the pressure oscillation after the impact phase results from the flow separation and rotation at structure corners. The wave slamming enhances with the increasing wave frequency when the impact area is constant, otherwise, it depends on the impact area. On the cap bottom wall, the wave slamming on inter-pile areas is enhanced, but the suction effect is less affected by pile arrangements. The increase in pile cap clearances reduces vertical forces but has less effect on horizontal forces. Additionally, a sustained increase in the wave crest height may reduce the slamming force. An empirical method for predicting wave forces is finally proposed based on the water entry theory and experimental findings. This work enhances the physical understanding of nonlinear effects during wave-bridge interaction and aims to support the design of substructures for sea-crossing bridges.

Investigations of hull girder slamming factor for a semi-displacement vessel using model testing

Global hull girder loads on semi-displacement vessels have not been fully understood yet due to the influence of nonlinear slamming and whipping load effects on the hull girder. Recent studies have shown that slamming and whipping loads could be higher than wave-induced loads under certain conditions. Additionally, current potential flow seakeeping codes do not account for dynamic effects when the vessel is operating in the semi-displacement mode. This paper discusses slamming effects on global hull girder loads using a hydro-elastic model test of a semi-displacement vessel. The test conditions included regular and irregular waves for different model speeds. The data show significant increase in global hull girder loads due to slamming at Froude numbers of 0.45 and 0.7. Additionally, as would be expected, the data show that severe wave conditions increase the slamming intensity. This effect applies particularly for encounter frequencies where slamming is more likely to occur. The data also show that the coupling between heave and pitch motions, as well as wave steepness, are critical parameters with respect to the magnitude of the slamming.

Comparative study of nonlinear wave-induced global loads on a container ship in regular head waves predicted with numerical methods based on weakly nonlinear potential theory and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations

ABSTRACT Wave-induced loads on the ship hull are of significant interest for many reasons. These loads, however, are highly nonlinear in realistic wave conditions and consequently difficult to predict. In this paper, we analysed and compared wave-induced loads acting on a container vessel in regular head waves computed with a newly developed weakly nonlinear potential theory-based code and a flow solver based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes Equations. We investigated both long and short waves with moderate steepness. Initially, the vessel was completely fixed and the ship motions were suppressed, then the vessel was free to heave and pitch motion. We compared time-histories of the computed wave-induced longitudinal and vertical global forces as well as the pitch moment and we deeply analysed nonlinear effects by applying a Fourier transformation and comparing the corresponding harmonic amplitude up to the fourth order. Our results demonstrated satisfactory agreement between the two numerical methods, especially when the ship was free to heave and pitch. Additionally, the results provided detailed information about the capabilities and limitations of the weakly nonlinear potential theory-based approach.

Resilience of coastal bridges under extreme wave-induced loads

Records of wave-induced damage on coastal bridges during natural hazards have been well documented over the past two decades. It is of utmost importance to decipher the loading mechanism and enhance the resilience of coastal bridges during extreme wave-inducing events. Quantification of vulnerability of these structures is an essential step in designing a resilient bridge system. Recently, considerable efforts have been made to study the force applied and the response of coastal bridge systems during extreme wave loading conditions. Although remarkable progress can be found in the quantification of load and response of coastal superstructures, very few studies assessed coastal bridge resiliency against extreme wave-induced loads. This paper adopts a simplified and practical technique to analyze and assess the resilience of coastal bridges exposed to extreme waves. Component-level and system-level fragility analyses form the basis of the resiliency analysis where the recovery functions are adopted based on the damage levels. It is shown that wave period has the highest contribution to the variation of bridge resiliency. Moreover, this study presents the uncertainty quantification in resiliency variation due to changes in wave load intensity. Results show that the bridge resiliency becomes more uncertain as the intensity of wave parameters increases. Finally, possible restoration strategies based on the desired resilience level and the attitude of decision-makers are also discussed.

Leveraging a Small Dataset to Predict Nonlinear Global Loads in Irregular Waves

In this work, a hybrid machine learning method, which uses ML strategies to model high-order force components within a low-order equation of motion, is considered in the context of the global wave-induced loads of a ship in irregular waves. It is shown that the method can make predictions in a range of wave conditions even when the training data set only includes a single seaway. The proposed method offers a data-leveraging technique which may be useful in the design space, where a small data set derived from a high-fidelity source can be leveraged to make similar fidelity predictions in a larger number of wave conditions.

Stability Of Estuarine Groyne During Overflowing Long-Period Primary Ship-Induced Waves Based On Laboratory Experiments

For the last two decades, significant damage to groyne structures has been observed in the German Elbe estuary. The main reason is the generation of primary ship-induced wave loading. The stern wave of the primary wave system appears as an overflowing over groyne, leading to damage at the crest and lee side of the structure due to the presence of high overflowing flow velocities (Melling et al., 2020). Therefore, overflowing flow velocities and damage were quantified by means of two different experimental setups; the flow experiments and the damage experiment. The flow experiment involved testing scaled physical models under continuous free-flow conditions. A Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) setup was used to capture flow velocities at the crest and lee side slope. A dimensionless flow velocity equation is obtained for overflowing flow over groyne structures. The damage experiment assessed the impact of overflowing waves at the crest and lee side on one of the scaled physical models. Measurements were conducted via Structure from Motion principles (SfM) and the damage is expressed in damage parameters S for varying wave heights and freeboard levels. This parameter describes the damage by width-averaged eroded area made dimensionless by the squared nominal stone diameter. Furthermore, the assessment considered the determination of the damage limits (initiation, intermediate, and failure) of a groyne structure for these waves. The results revealed the relation between the wave height and the freeboard and damage. Furthermore, by regarding the flow velocity explicitly a more fundamental understanding, and more generally applicable design approach might be obtained. The insights gained from this research contribute to an enhanced understanding of groyne behaviour under overflowing long- period ship-induced waves. By highlighting the significance of the flow velocities for waves and freeboard levels, this study provides valuable information for optimizing the design and maintenance of estuarine groynes that are prone to these types of wave-induced loads.

Directional Spectrum Estimation For Sea States Generated By The Single Summation Method

The influence of directional spreading of waves is significant for wave-induced loads, wave breaking and nonlinearity of the waves. For physical model testing performed at test facilities such as the Ocean and Coastal Engineering Laboratory at Aalborg University, it is crucial to validate if the test conditions match the target sea states by measurement and analysis of the generated directional wave field. Most of the existing methods assumes a double summation sea state to be present which is valid in the prototype. However, waves in the laboratory are usually generated by single summation. The current paper presents a method to analyse short-crested waves generated by the single summation method. Compared to similar methods oblique reflections are considered instead of only in-line reflections. The results show that the method successfully decomposes the incident and reflected wave fields in the time domain. Thus, for example the incident wave height distribution may be obtained. The sensitivity of the new method to additional reflective directions, noise, calibration errors and positional errors of the wave gauges was found small.

Effects of design and fabrication of segmented ship models on test results of wave-induced loads

The design and fabrication of segmented ship models have great effects on wave-induced loads in wave basins. Three different segmented ship models of a 20,000 TEU (twenty-feet equivalent unit) ultra-large container ship are designed and fabricated with different support frames and backbones. The shell and wooden frames of Models A and B were fabricated with the same method, however, the type of backbone and scale are different. Model C is a steel framing model, the dimensions of the frame members are validated by finite element method and the frame members are connected with welding technique. Suitable parameters are selected to design and fabricate Model C with the improved fabrication method. The calculated mode results of Model C are compared with the experimental data to validate the reasonability and advantage of the improved design and fabrication method. The dry and wet modes of the three ship models are measured and compared. The three different ship models are tested under typical conditions in different wave basins, and the corresponding test results are compared to reveal the effects of the fabrication method on structural elastic modes and wave-induced loads. Finally, the uncertainty analysis of the three model tests under typical conditions are conducted.

Consequences of the Improved Wave Statistics on a Hull Girder Reliability of Double Hull Oil Tankers

This paper investigates the change in hull girder failure probabilities and partial safety factors caused by the implementation of the new procedure for direct computation of wave loads recommended by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). Differences between new and previous procedures are primarily related to the different associated scatter diagrams, and secondarily due to the assumptions on wave spectrum, wave energy spreading, and ship speed. This study performs a comparative structural reliability analysis of the global longitudinal bending of five oil tankers of different sizes between two procedures for wave load computation. Firstly, failure probabilities are compared, and secondly, modified partial safety factors are proposed, resulting in similar failure probabilities according to two separate procedures. It is found that implementation of the new revision of the IACS procedure for direct computation of wave loads results in a reduction of the minimum required ultimate vertical bending capacity of a ship hull by 10%. In addition to the novel investigation of the safety of oil tankers using a revised wave scatter diagram, this study offers a new rapid method for calculation of extreme vertical wave bending moments based on the regression of the parameters of the Weibull function, used for the long-term probability distribution of wave-induced loads.

Bivariate reliability analysis for floating wind turbines

Abstract Wind turbines are designed to withstand extreme wind- and wave-induced loads, hence a reliability study is vital. This study presents a bivariate reliability approach, suitable for accurate assessment of critical forces and moments, occurring within the wind turbine’s critical mechanical parts, such as the drivetrain. A ecently developed bivariate modified Weibull method has been utilized in this study. Multivariate statistical analysis is more appropriate than a univariate one, as it accounts for cross-correlations between different system components. This study employed a bivariate modified Weibull method to estimate extreme operational loads acting on a 10-mega watt (MW) semi-submersible type floating wind turbine (FWT). Longitudinal, bending, twisting, and cyclic loads being among typical load types that FWTs and associated parts are susceptible to. Furthermore, environmental loads acting on an operating FWT being impacted by incoming wind’s stochastic behavior in terms of wind speed, direction, shear, vorticity, necessitates accurate nonlinear extreme load analysis for FWT critical parts such as the drivetrain. Appropriate numerical methods were used in this study to model dynamic, structural, aerodynamic, and control aspects of the FWT system. Bending moments acting on the FWT drivetrain have been obtained from SIMPACK (Multibody Simulation Method), given realistic in-situ environmental conditions. For a 5-year return period of interest, a bivariate modified Weibull method offered robust assessment of FWT’s coupled drivetrain’s bending moments.

Reliability Analysis of Crack Growth Occurrence for a Secondary Hull Component due to Vibration Excitation

Abstract Ship hull vibration is a significant contributor to fatigue crack growth and the major sources of vibrations are found to be the main engine vibration excitation, the wave-induced springing and whipping loads, and the action of the propeller. In the midship region, wave-induced loads and the main engine are the major contributors, whereas propeller excitation dominates in the aft region of the ship hull. No general method exists to solve all kinds of vibration problems and they need to be evaluated through a cost-by-case approach. The complex and uncertain aspects of hull vibration and fatigue crack growth motivate the need for a reliability-based scheme for assessing the resulting fatigue crack propagation. In the present paper, a probabilistic formulation for the failure probability of the occurrence of crack propagation of a secondary hull component is outlined. A generic cargo hold model is analyzed with engine excitation and wave-induced loading as vibration sources, and a stochastic model for vibration response is outlined. The limit state is formulated as the possible occurrence of fatigue crack growth. The secondary hull component considered is a pipe stack support, which is a supporting component that attaches the cargo pipes to the wall inside a cargo tank. Different initial crack sizes are implemented to evaluate the adequacy of the applied stochastic model for vibration response and the accuracy of the estimated failure probability is assessed.

Design of floating wind turbine gearboxes using Gaidai risk assessment method

Generating renewable energy sources, rather than relying on world’s finite natural resources, becoming now increasingly crucial as world agenda focuses on climate issues. System’s high-dimensionality, along with nonlinear cross-correlations between various floating wind turbine mechanical parts, subjected to environmental wind and wave-induced loads, are not always easily handled by traditional risk assessment approaches, dealing with complex environmental energy systems. Empirical bending moments of drivetrain, have been produced using SIMPACK (Multibody Simulation Method), based on in situ wind loads. The aim of this study was to benchmark novel lifetime assessment approach for green energy systems.

Fatigue Assessment Comparison between a Ship Motion-Based Data-Driven Model and a Direct Fatigue Calculation Method

Ocean-crossing ship structures continuously suffer from wave-induced loads when sailing at sea. The encountered wave loads cause significant variations in ship structural stresses, leading to accumulated fatigue damage. Where large inherent uncertainties still exist, it is now common to use spectral methods for direct fatigue calculation when evaluating ship fatigue. This paper investigates the use of a machine learning technique to establish a model for 2800TEU container vessel fatigue assessment. Measurement data from 3 years of cross-Atlantic sailing demonstrated and validated the machine learning model. In this investigation, the ship’s motions were used as inputs to build a machine learning model. The fatigue damage amounts predicted using a machine learning model were compared with those obtained from full-scale measurements and direct fatigue calculation. The pros and cons of the methods are compared in terms of their capability, robustness, and prediction accuracy.

Dynamics of offshore wind turbine and its seabed foundation under combined wind-wave loading

Over the past two decades, a great number of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) have been built in offshore areas worldwide to harvest clean wind energy resources. The dynamic response and stability of OWTs under environmental loads, e.g., wind and wave, is a key technical problem that engineers are most concerned about. In this study, a wave-structure-foundation integrated numerical model OlaFlow–ABAQUS, which was independently developed through the secondary development, is used to study the dynamics characteristics of a thin-walled steel monopile offshore wind turbine and its seabed foundation under extreme wave and wind loads that would occur in typhoon weather. The wave-induced load imposed on the cylindrical tower of the OWT is determined by solving the VARANS (Volume Average Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes) hydrodynamic equation, the wind load on the turbine blades is estimated by applying the pulsating wind theory, and the mechanical behavior of seabed foundation soil is described by the ideal elastoplastic Mohr-Coulomb model. The computational results show that the OWT and its seabed foundation have a strong dynamic response under the combined action of extreme wind and wave, and there is intensive interaction between them. There is a transient liquefaction zone in the seabed foundation, and the maximum liquefaction depth, in this case, is approximately 2 m. Residual horizontal displacement with a magnitude of approximately 0.4 m occurs at the top of the cylindrical tower of the OWT, resulting in the overall tilting of the OWT. The maximum inclination angle of the cylindrical tower is approximately 0.51°. This angle of inclination may cause significant bending moment and stress concentration in some mechanical components such as the drive shafts and gearboxes that connect to the turbine blades. It reduces the service life of the OWT significantly and also is detrimental to the long-term service performance of the OWT.

Numerical study on wave-induced drift forces and motions of a DTC ship in head and oblique waves using functional decomposition model

It is imperative to investigate the adequacy of propulsion power and steering mechanisms in order to maintain the manoeuvrability of ships in adverse wave conditions, as the drift forces caused by wave can result in deviation from the desired course. The primary objective of this research is to develop a hybrid approach, combining potential and viscous flows, known as SWENSE (Spectral Wave Explicit Navier-Stokes Equations), to accurately assess the wave-induced drift forces and motions experienced by ships in waves. SWENSE is a hybrid approach based on the functional decomposition model, in which the total field is composed of the incident field and complementary field. In this study, the incident filed waves are calculated by the Airy wave theory and the complementary field is solved by the SWENSE model. The wave conditions are selected according to the benchmark cases of the European Union research project SHOPERA (Energy Efficient Safe Ship Operation). The wave-induced loads and motions of DTC in head and oblique waves are calculated. Results of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) are compared with those of EFD (Experimental Fluid Dynamics) and other numerical methods. In addition, the wave-induced drift forces of the fixed/3DOF (Degrees of Freedom) ships are compared with each other (3DOF includes heave, roll and pitch). SWENSE model is proven to be reliable for the predictions of the wave-induced drift forces and motions of ships in waves.

Whole-life modelling of anchor capacity for floating systems: The RSN[sbnd]CSI approach

Successive episodes of cyclic loading cause the strength of soft soils to reduce, through pore pressure build-up, and then recover, through consolidation, as shown by model testing, field studies and theoretical considerations. These ‘whole-life’ changes in soil strength affect the capacity of anchoring systems for offshore infrastructure such as floating turbines or platforms. This paper introduces a new macro-model for assessing the through-life changes in seabed strength and anchor capacity as a result of variable cyclic loading and concurrent consolidation. The model combines SN curves for damage accumulation with a critical state soil mechanics framework for changes in soil strength and anchor capacity. These methods allow the full operational lifetime of an anchoring system to be rapidly analysed, encompassing timescales from individual wave-induced load cycles, through to annual seasons and soil consolidation processes. The approach provides a new basis for whole-life modelling of anchoring systems that is sufficiently fast to allow reliability-based assessments via a Monte Carlo method. In soft soils that exhibit beneficial gains in capacity, this method provides a basis for more efficient design through reductions in anchor size.