Scientific Bulletin of the Politehnica University of Timisoara Transactions on Mechanics Special issue

The 6th International Conference on Hydraulic Machinery and Hydrodynamics Timisoara, Romania, October 21 - 22, 2004

ANALISYS OF LOADINGS ACTING ON A GLORIA TYPE JACK-UP STRUCTURE

Georgic Sl mnoiu Senior lecturer Ph. D. Naval Academy Mircea cel B trn Constan a Vergil Chi"ac Senior lecturer Ph. D. Naval Academy Mircea cel B trn Constan a

Valentin Oncica Lecturer Ph. D. Naval Academy Mircea cel B trn Constan a

ABSTRACT On a Gloria type jack-up building acts static loads (own weight, machines, installations and materials weight) and dynamic loads (waves, wind, marine currents, earthquake, operating installations). The authors led their analyze on the determining the dynamic loads produced by waves, wind and marine currents because these are the main source in collapse of the structure. The structural model of Gloria type jack-up respects strictly the geometrical and mechanical characteristics of the real structure and is defined by many 3D beam elements (7776) and a lot of knots (6568), which offers a good precision for FEM, with COSMOS program. This structural model is more good then other models, used in analyzing of Gloria type jack-up. For the evaluation of the hydrodynamic loads on the Gloria type jack-up cylindrical beams, we used the MIRAF program which lets calculation of the wave loads along the currents action, too. The spectral models Black Sea, PiersonMoskovitz, JONSWAP are implemented in the program. The Airy wave theory is used here because is realistic for the Black Sea. For the evaluation of the wind loads on the Gloria type jack-up model we used deterministic relation based on Morison formula, which are sustained by American Petroleum Institute, American Bureau of Shipping and Det Norske Veritas. KEYWORDS

1. INTRODUCTION Over a platform of marine drilling jack-up type in exploitation, acts: static loads: the dead load, the weights of installations, equipments and material situated on deck; dynamic loads: waves, wind, marine currents, earthquake and the operation of drilling and auxiliary equipments. The platforms response consists of the way in which the jack-up type platform reacts to the act of the enumerated tasks. The response is composed from the ensemble of the mechanic sizes (tensions, deformations, movements) that appear simultaneously in the elements of the legs and body, when jack-up type platform is submissive of a certain type of loading. The analyses of the jack-up type platforms behavior in exploits can be broached below three aspects: static; dynamic; fatigue resistance. The static calculus of the jack-up type platform is accomplished in two stages: the global calculus, achieved for the determination efforts from the bars (but not in the zones in which exists tensional concentrators); the local calculus, that consists in the determination of the local stresses allocation (in knots) departing from the global calculus results. The global calculus utilizes the standard programs based on finale elements method FEM (RDM, I DIG 90, ALGOR, COSMOS, FRAN, STRUDL, MARCH-MENTAT etc.) and consists in the discreet models loading, with the forces to the

Gloria type jack-up, hydrodynamic loads, wind loads

existing knots at the moment ,,t, in the framework of some loading hypothesis, and obtains the structures response (deformation and efforts), in the conditions of the structures linear elastic behavior. The static response is obtained through the solution of the equations of static equilibrium: (1) [K]{ } = {F} where: [K] = matrix of structures rigidity, { } = the vector of nodal movements, {F} = the vector forces to knots. In the case of charging hypotheses with forces from waves, the vector {P} is defined on the strength of Morison relations [1],[2],[3],[4]: (2) {F}=0.5 [CD][A]{v}{v} + [CM][V]{v} where:{v},{v} = speed and acceleration vectors of the fluid to the static knots of the structure; = the water density; [CD];[CM] = the diagonal matrix of the hydrodynamic coefficients CD si CM; [A];[V] = the matrices of the areas and volumes of the structures bars. Speeds v and the accelerations v , are established with the utilization of a proper wave theory. For hypothesis of load with forces generated by wind, the vector {F} may be determined with the relation [5],[6],[7]: (3) {F} = 0.5 a [Cd][A]{v2} where: a = air density; [Cd]= the matrix of the training coefficient; [A] = the matrix of the exposed areas; {v2}=the wind speed vector on the structures knots level established in the recommended conditions [5],[6],[7] or based on the local measurements. The global static calculus permits tension determination in the elements of the legs, away from the singular points like the tubular blending (knots). Tension distribution in this area is complicated specially because of the specific geometry of the tubular blending. In the vicinity of the welding belt, in some points called hot-spots, are signaled tension peaks that can be up to 20 times higher than the medium level of the tension from the secondary bars of the blending (for example see fig.1)[2],[8]. The purpose of the local static calculus is determining the tension distribution in the most stressed tubular blending, and the peaks of these tensions. This calculus can be done in three modes: the finite element method; the margin element method; the method of concentration efforts factors. The dynamic calculus of the jack-up type platforms under waves action, assumes the

following steps: enunciation of the structural model; determination of the structure response under the extreme wave action; fatigue analysis. In the writings [2],[14] and [15] is recommended the utilization of structural models with more grades of dynamic freedom (n GLD). A model with n GLD may be described by the dynamic equilibrium equation [8],[15]: (4) [ M ]{ x} + [C ]{ x} + [ K ]{ x} = { F ( x, x, t )} where: [M] = masses matrix, composed of: - legs, body and installation mass, sustained by it; - additional water mass involved in movement by the structures displacement; - appendix mass (sacrifice anodes, shell and vegetation deposits over the legs); [C] = amortization matrix; [K] = stiffness matrix; {x}, {x}, {x} = movement, speeds and accelerations vectors of the structures knots in a stationary axes system; {F(x, x, t )} = vector of the perturbative hydrodynamic forces reduced to the structures knots. The vector of the perturbative hydrodynamic forces can be determined with the Morison relation [1], [3], [16]:
F ( x, x, t ) = 1 [CD ][ A] {vx } { x} ({vx } 2 [CM ][V ]{vx } [CM ] [1] [V ]{ x}

{ x}) +

where: vectors in the movement knots of the structure; {v x } {x} = water relative speed vector in relation with the structure. If structure knots movements are low the vectors {vx } and {vx } may be approximated with the vectors {v} and {v} . Notations: , [CD], [CM], [A], [V], {v} and {v} have the same signification as in formula (2). Using the notations:

( ) {v x }, {v x } = water speed and acceleration

(5)

equation (5) becomes:

[M ] + ([C M ] [1])[V] = [M

1 [C D ][A] = [K D ] ; [C M ][V] = [K M ]; 2

],

(6) where the perturbative force vector will be only according to t and x , meaning:

[M ]{x}+ [C]{x}+ [K]{x}= {F(t, x )}

{F ( t, x )} = [ K D ] ({v} { x}) {v} { x} +

[ K M ]{v}

(7)

The matrix equation (7) is equivalent with an algebraic system of n equations where unknown quantity is constituted of dynamic movement on GLD directions. This system can be solved with the methods: direct integration method, modal analysis method, etc. Direct integration method becomes disturbing when n>1000 [17]. Solving the system (7) has two steps: 1) Finding the free response of the structure, which means solving the matrix equation: (8) M {x} + [C]{x} + [K ]{x} = 0 Calculus is resumed to a classic vector exercise of proper vectors and values, following-up results the spectral matrix [ ] and the modal matrix [ ]. Comparing the fundamental proper period of the inflection vibrations of the structure with the values spectrum of the waves period, information about the risk of appearance of the resonance in the structures vibration due to the waves action may be obtained. It is worthy of note that in the oceanic engineering the resonance condition is unacceptable. 2) The finding of the structures response to the action of the hydrodynamic forces is made using a calculus method in the frequency or time domain. The wave model that stands at the base of the vectors {v} and {v} calculation, is adopted. The system (7) is integrated with the adopted method obtaining the dynamic response {x}. Whatever the complexity, all structural models contain the same base elements, meaning matrixes [M], [C] Li [K]. So, mathematically speaking, enunciation of the structural model means creation of these matrixes. For the jack-up type platforms, the following structural models may be adopted: the dynamic spatial model, with the masses concentrated at a small number of knots; the dynamic spatial model, with the masses concentrated at the real structures knots.

[ ]

The resistance structures of the jack-up type platforms can be shaped with straight beam type elements with axial stiffness, inflection, shearing and torsion [1],[2],[3]. Therefore: the platform body ( with a rigid, cassette structure) is shaped by a special network of straight beams adequate to the its shape and stiffness; the platforms legs may be discretized: - spatial, with straight beam type elements, with the shape, dimensions and stiffness of the legs beams; - by equivalence with straight beam type elements, disposed in extension, every element having the same height as the equivalent panel and the stiffness and geometric characteristics are calculated with specific equivalence relations that exist in literature [18]. Modeling the link between the platform body and legs may be done by: joint type links at the bolts attachment level; ,,Master Slave type links at the guiders level. At the guiders lower zone may be considered articulated footholds at every vertical tube[19]. 2. STRUCTURE MODULATION For F.E.M analysis of the platform, the authors used a spatial model characterized by: parallelepiped body in framework form with very high stiffness (E=21020 N/m2), made of beam 3D elastic elements, loaded with the real mass of the platform; spatial beams legs with railings that have stiff connected elements in knots; legs built-in the marine soil and stiff connected with the platform body. The stiff built-in model of the leg in the marine soil was accepted by the authors having in mind the fact that after a certain wile of anchoring, the soil around the leg yields and the elasticity module of the soil is ca. six times smaller then that of the steel. About the stiff connection between the legs and the body the authors consider that the effect of these modeling is materialized in a tension concentrator whose effect vanishes a few cm from the connection.

The model used to discretize the legs uses 7776 beam 3D elastic elements and 6568 knots and has the following advantages: follows the exact geometric and mechanical characteristics of the real pipes: lengths, diameters, masses, inertial moments; offers a better calculus precision than the models used by: - Pitulice [20] equivalent beam type model with masses concentrated at the horizontal landing level; - Dima [19] hybrid model, with 3 legs discretized with straight beam type elements disposed in extension and 1 leg spatially discretized in accordance with the real composition; - Spatoulas [21] spatial model with 3648 beam 3D elements and 2635 knots. In figure 1 is presented the structural model for the hole platform, and in figure 2, the model for a leg section. The following notations where used: 1vertical tube; 2-horizontal pipe; 3-diagonal pipe; 4-

intermediary pipe; 5-body. We distinguish the following: the horizontal pipes are made of six beam 3D elastic elements; the diagonal pipes are made of four beam 3D elastic elements; the intermediary pipes are made of two beam 3D elastic elements; the portion of the vertical tube between two horizontals is made of four beam 3D elastic elements. The modeling of the platforms structure was made with the help of the COSMOS/M program (developed by the Structural Research and Analysis Corporation Santa Monica California S.U.A.), version 1.75. The purpose that the authors choused the spatial modeling of the platform was to give the application o form as close to reality as possible, proving the righteousness of the FEM utilization at the complex structure study, whatever its gauge is.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

3. ESTABLISHING THE LOADINGS PRODUCED BY THE WIND AND WAVE THAT ACTS ON THE PLATFORM 3.1. The loadings produced by the wind The calculus of the forces provided by the wind that is presented in the international rules [6], [7], [22], uses deterministic relations based on the Morison type formula (3): API-RP-2 rules [6]: Fv = 0,0473 v2 Cs A (9) where: Fv = the force generated by the wind, in N; v = v10 ( y / 10) x , in km/h; v10 = medium speed of the wind measured at 10 m above the water; y = element height relative to the water surface, in m; x= 1/8 , for continuous wind and x=1/13 , for wind blasts; Cs = shape coefficient ; A = wind exposed surface, in m2; A.B.S. rules [22]: Fv = 0,0623 vk2 Ch Cs A daN (10) where: vk = wind speed, in m/s; Ch = height dependent coefficient; Cs and A have the same meaning as in relation (9). D.N.V. rules [7]: 2 Fv = 0,5 v yt C s A sin daN (11) where: = air density, in kg/m3; vyt = v10 (y/10) = exponent, depends on the
__ __
__ __

= burst factor;

action time of the wind; v10 , y, Cs and A have the same meaning as in relation (9). Is notable the fact that relations (9) and (10) lead to the same results, for a prescribed construction, while relation (11) offers values with ca. 20 % higher for Fv [8], [11]. Because the first Romanian platforms were built under surveillance of A.B.S., for determining the wind force the relation (13) was used, and resulted: Fv = 2500 kN . 3.2. Loadings produced by the waves For the calculus of the hydrodynamic loadings on the cylindrical bars of the platform was used MIRAF program [23], developed by the authors in

collaboration with specialists from the Ovidius University ConstanSa. The MIRAF program has two important branches (fig. 3): force distribution over height study of the wave force depending on depth; the graphic permits comparison of the evaluated forces in two ways: FS force calculated considering the spectral characteristics, Fd force calculated in determinist mater; also, may count, the current influence by determining the current speed depending on the wind speed and depth; graphic specter spectral energy representation for a wave with certain characteristics (H,T), same as speeds, accelerations and forces specters that varies with depth for the same wave. Entry dates are grouped in to two categories: the ones related to the characteristics of the studied structure (water depth; length, diameter and the number of modules of the legss vertical tubes) and the ones that describe a state of the sea (wind speed, wave period and height). For the coefficients CM and CD of the Morison relation (see relation 2) one of the following variants: user inserted constants; analytic determination of the coefficients. In the program are implemented spectral models: Black Sea, Pierson-Moskovitz, JONSWAP. The wave theory used is the one of the Airy wave, specific to the Black Sea [19], [24]. These theory is the most simple approximation in modeling the real wave and is based on the presumption that the wave height is much smaller than its length and water depth. By applying the MIRAF program, was determined that the vertical distribution of the hydrodynamic force corresponding to the cylindrical modules of the vertical tubes with the diameter of 914 mm and height of 900 mm, in determinist manner, for the projection waves parameters (Hmax = 12 m Li T = 10 s) and accepting CM = 1,5 and CD = 0,6 (see fig. 4).

Schema bloc program MIRAF Fig. 3

h(m) 20 10 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50 -60 -70 0 25 50 Fig. 4 75 F(kN)

4.CONCLUSIONS The discrete spatial model developed by the authors for the Gloria type jack-up respects the geometric and mechanical characteristics of the real pipes and tubes and because of the high number of beam 3D elastic elements (7776) and of a very high number of knots (6568) it offers a big calculus precision. The calculus program realized for the loading of the platforms structure with the load produced by the wave, permits a very realistic determination of the hydrodynamic loads on the cylindrical bars of the platform, having in mind the fact that beside the waves action, the program considers the action of the marine currents over the structure. REFERENCES 1. BREBBIA, C.A., WALKER, S. Dynamic Analysis of Offshore Structures. Newnes Butterworths, London Boston, 1979. 2. Mc CLELLAND, B., REIFEL, M. Planning and design of fixed offshore platforms, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, 1986

3. SARPKAYA, T., ISAACSON, M. Mechanics of Wave Forces on Offshore Structures. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1981. 4. SARPKAYA, T., DALTON, C. Analysis of wave plus current-induced forces on Cylinders. OTC 6815, Houston, Texas, 1992 5. xxx Mobile Offshore Drilling Units. American Bureau of Shipping, New-York, 1980 6. xxx Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms. American Petroleum Institute, Washington D.C., 1980. 7. xxx Rules for the Design, Construction and Inspection of Offshore Structures. Det Norske Veritas, Oslo, 1977; 1981. 8. xxx Structures en mer dimensionnement, fabrication et comportament des structures en acier. CNEXO CTCIM, Editions Gunod, 1976. 9. PASCARIU, I. Finite elements. Concepts. Applications. Military Publishing House, Bucharest, 1977. 10. BREBBIA, C., NAKAGUMA, R. Aplications of boundary elements in the analysis of offshore structures, Proc. Of

Int. Conf. on Offshore Structures Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1977 11. xxx Assemblages tubulaires soudes. A.R.S.E.M., Editions TECHNIP, 1985. 12. xxx Ciclic Fatigue of Nodes and Welded Joints of Offshore Units. Bureau Veritas, Note no. 199, Paris, 1987 13. xxx Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of Offshore Platforms. Bureau Veritas, Paris, 1975 14. DAWSON, T.H. Offshore structural engineering. Prentice Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632, 1983. 15. HEIDEMAN, J.C. Design of fixed offshore platforms: A comprehensive review. University of Texas, Houston, 1980. 16. CHAKRABARTI, S.K. Hydrodynamics of Offshore Strctures. Computational Mechanics Publication, Southampton, Boston, 1994 17. DAILEY, J.E. Design of fixed offshore structures. Houston, Texas, 1980. 18. xxx Self Elevating Units. Det Norske Veritas, Note no. 31.5, Oslo, 1983 ;Note no. 34.5, Oslo, 1984

19. DIMA, A. Contributions to the calculus and design work of the marine metallic platforms. Doctorate thesis, Construction Institute, Bucharest, 1993. 20. PITULICE, D. Study of the behavior in waves, of the moving and stationary fixed platforms, Doctorate thesis. University ,, DunVrea de Jos,,, GalaSi, 1998. 21. SPATOULAS, G. Contributions to the dynamic calculus of the metallic structures of the marine platform type, and the pipes system. Doctorate thesis, University ,,Petrol-Gaze,,, PloieLti, 2000. 22. xxx Rules for Building and Classing Offshore Mobile Drilling Unit. American Bureau of Shipping, New York, 1973. 23. JOAVINW, R., SLWMNOIU, G., POPA, M. The effect of marine currents on the wave forces acting on thin elements. The 17th International Symposium on Naval and Marine Education, Naval Academy ,,Mircea cel BVtrn,,, ConstanSa 24-26 Mai, 2001. 24. xxx Rules for classification and construction of the marine platforms. Romanian Naval Registry, Bucharest, 1983, 1992.