Hybrid Model Testing Technique for Deep-Sea Platforms Based on Equivalent Water Depth Truncation

In this paper, an inner turret moored FPSO which works in the water of 320 m depth, is selected to study the socalled ＂passively-truncated ＋ numerical-simulation＂ type of hybrid model testing technique while the tnmcated water depth is 160 m and the model scale ）, = 80. During the investigation, the optimization design of the equivalent-depth truncated system is performed by using the similarity of the static characteristics between the truncated system and the full depth one as the objective function. According to the truncated system, the corresponding physical test model is made. By adopting the coupling time domain simulation method, the tnmcated system model test is numerically reconstructed to carefully verify the computer simulation software and to adjust the corresponding hydrodynamic parameters. Based on the above work, the numerical extrapolation to the full depth system is performed by using the verified computer software and the adjusted hydrodyrmmic parameters. The full depth system model test is then performed in the basin and the results are compared with those from the numerical extrapolation. At last, the implementation procedure and the key technique of the hybrid model testing of the deep-sea platforms are summarized and printed. Through the above investigations, some beneficial conclusions are presented.

Hybrid Verification of A Deepwater Cell-Truss Spar

Hybrid model testing technique is widely used in verification of a deepwater floating structure and its mooring system, but the design of the truncated mooring systems which can reproduce both static and dynamic response same as the full-depth mooring system is still a big challenge, especially for the mooring systems with large truncation. A Cell-Truss Spar operated in 1500 m water depth is verified in a wave basin with 4 m water depth. A large truncation factor arises even though a small model scale 1 ： 100 is adopted. Computer program modules for analyzing the static and frequency domain dynamic response of mooting line are combined with multi-objective genetic algorithm NSGA-II to optimize the truncated mooring system. Considering the asyrmnetry of layout of mooring lines, two different truncated mooring systems are respectively designed for both directions in which the restoring forces of the mooring system are quite different. Not only the static characteristics of the mooring systems are calibrated, but also the dynamic responses of the single truncated mooring line are evaluated through time domain numerical simulation and model tests. The model test results of 100-year storm in the GOM are reconstructed and extrapolated to a full depth. It is found that the experimental and numerical resuits of Spar wave frequency motion agree well, and the dynamic responses of the full-depth mooring lines are better reproduced, but the low frequency surge motion is overestimated due to the smaller mooring-induced damping. It is a feasible method adopting different tnmcated mooring systems for different directions in which the restoring force characteristics are quite different and cannot be simulated by one truncated mooring system. Hybrid verification of a deepwater platform in wave basin with shallow water depth is still feasible if the truncated mooring systems are properly designed, and numerical extrapolation is necessary.