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Description:
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Verifying the design of floating structures adequately requires both numerical
simulations and model testing , a combination of which is referred to as the
hybrid method of design verification . The challenge in direct scaling of moorings
for model tests is the depth and spatial limitations in wave basins . It is therefore
important to design and build equivalent mooring systems to ensure that the
static properties (global restoring forces and global stiffness ) of the prototype
floater are matched by those of the model in the wave basin prior to testing .
A fit -for -purpose numerical tool called STAMOORSYS is developed in this
research for the design of statically equivalent deepwater mooring systems . The
elastic catenary equations are derived and applied with efficient algorithm to
obtain local and global static equilibrium solutions . A unique design page in
STAMOORSYS is used to manually optimize the system properties in search of
a match in global restoring forces and global stiffness . Up to eight mooring lines
can be used in analyses and all lines have the same properties . STAMOORSYS
is validated for single -line mooring analysis using LINANL and Orcaflex , and for
global mooring analysis using MOORANL and Orcaflex . A statically equivalent
deepwater mooring system for a representative structure that could be tested in
the Offshore Technology Research Center at Texas A &M University is then
designed using STAMOORSYS and the results are discussed . |