Hydrodynamic interaction of floating structure in regular waves

Abstract

Floating structures play an important role for exploring the oil and gas from the sea. In loading and offloading, motion responses of offshore floating structures are affected through hydrodynamic interaction. Large motions between floating bodies would cause the damage of moorings, offloading system and may colloid to each other. This research studies on hydrodynamic interaction between Tension Leg Platform (TLP) and Semi-Submersible (Tender Assisted Drilling (TAD)) in regular and irregular waves with scenario as follows: fixed TLP and 6-DOF floating semi-submersible and 6-DOF both TLP and semi-submersible. Under these conditions, hydrodynamics coefficients, mooring and connectors forces, motions and relative motions of TLP and Semi-Submersible will be simulated numerically by using 3D source distribution method. As the scope is big, this paper only presents model experiment of floating TLP and semi-submersible in the regular wave. The experiment is carried out in the UTM Towing Tank.