Compliant Offshore Structures

Over the last two decades, exploitation of the United Kingdom's offshore oil and gas reserves has prompted a substantial level of research activity in marine technology. This work has been directed towards the devlopment of offshore structures designed to provide cost-effective platforms for operation in the hostile ocean environment found on the United Kingdom continental shelf. The close collaboration between technological development and practical application provides challenges for the engineers involved in both the background research and in the construction, installation and operation phases of development. It is hoped that the contents of this book will convey to the reader some of the more demanding technical problems that are being encountered and solved. The authors feel that it is timely that some of the developments in the analysis of compliant structures over the last two decades are brought together in a single text book. The book presents some aspects of the mechanics of compliant structures researched by one small group within the London Centre of Marine Technology. The first four chapters of the book present an account of the various conventional and newly emerging methods of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic analysis that are available for characterizing compliant marine structures. This is followed by the use of the analysis methods for a variety of conventional and novel compliant structures. The majority of the material presented in this book is concerned with analysis methods for determining the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic behaviour, at wave frequencies only, of conventional and novel compliant structure types. The contribution of hull configuration for tandem hull vessels and of pneumatic compliances for ship shaped and semisubmersible vessels has also been emphasized. This text is aimed at a range of readers from second and third year undergraduates in mechanical engineering as well as naval architecture and ocean engineering and postgraduates reading for masters' degrees and carrying out research Compliant Offshore Structures deals with some aspects of the mechanics of compliant offshore structures. Analysis methods for determining the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic behavior, at wave frequencies only, of conventional and novel compliant structure types are described. The contribution of hull configuration for tandem hull vessels and of pneumatic compliances for ship shape and semi-submersible vessels is also emphasized. Comprised of 11 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the various conventional and emerging methods of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic analysis that are available for characterizing compliant marine structures. The response of compliant structures to ocean waves is given emphasis, along with the hydrostatic stability of a compliant vessel. The discussion then turns to the use of analysis methods for a variety of conventional and novel compliant structures such as semi-submersibles, ship forms, tensioned buoyant platforms, crane vessels, and vertical marine risers. However, those compliant structures that are believed to have a future application or, alternatively, are useful in illustrating an interesting performance feature are also considered. Among such structures are those with articulated joints, pneumatic compliances, and tandem hull marine vehicles. This monograph is intended for practicing engineers as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students. Content: Dedication , Page ii Front Matter , Page iii Copyright , Page iv Preface , Pages v-vii Chapter 1 - Introduction , Pages 1-19 Chapter 2 - Ocean wave excitation , Pages 20-48 Chapter 3 - Hydrostatic analysis , Pages 49-68 Chapter 4 - Dynamic response analysis , Pages 69-79 Chapter 5 - Semisubmersible and ship forms , Pages 80-136 Chapter 6 - Tensioned buoyant platforms , Pages 137-188 Chapter 7 - Dynamics of crane vessels , Pages 189-209 Chapter 8 - Tandem hull floating vessels , Pages 210-233 Chapter 9 - Articulated structures , Pages 234-282 Chapter 10 - Floating vessels with trapped air cavities , Pages 283-352 Chapter 11 - Vertical marine risers , Pages 353-398 Appendix - Results of linear wave theory , Pages 399-402 Index , Pages 403-412 Draws together the hydrodynamic and structural dynamic analysis techniques used to design both conventional and innovative compliant structure types. Semisubmersibles, ship shapes, crane vessels and tensioned buoyant platforms are considered among the conventional structures, whereas articulated vessels, tandem hull designs, and vessels with pneumatic compliances are considered as examples of innovative designs which should have a promising future. For advanced undergraduates in mechanical engineering, naval architecture, and ocean engineering; postgraduates working toward advanced degrees in ocean engineering; and practicing engineers. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or. This work is directed towards the development of offshore structures designed to provide cost-effective platforms for operation in the hostile ocean environment found on the United Kingdom continental shelf.