DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFICIENT COMPUTER SIMULATION MODEL FOR RESPONSE ANALYSIS OF A MOORED SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE

Abstract

This paper presents the design and development of an efficient modular ‘Computer Simulation Model (CSM)’ for response analysis of a moored semi-submersible. The computer simulation model is designed in two split models (i.e. computational and experimental models) and each of these models consists of various modules. The modules are developed from basic governing equations related to motion and modules are integrated and we aim for a seamless integration. The moored semi-submersible is represented mathematically as six degrees of freedom dynamic system and the coupling effects between the structure and mooring lines are considered. The basic geometric configuration of semi- submersible is modelled and analyzed for stability computations in MS-Excel*TM and then the basic governing equations related to motion are modelled mathematically in a module and solved numerically with Ansys-AQWA**TM. The computational model is validated and verified with some available experimental results. The CSM is utilized to study the surge and sway responses with respect to the horizontal range of mooring lines and our results show good validation with the existing experimental results. Our presented results show that the fibre wires have minimum steady state response in surge and sway degrees of freedom as compared with the steel wires. However, they have large drift as compared with steel wires. Finally, we show that the computer simulation model can help in detailed analysis of responses and results can be utilized for design and development of new age semi-submersibles for optimum performances for a given set of parameters.