3.5 WIND LOADS 3.5.

1 Wind phenomenology
Wind speed is experienced essentially at two different time scales: 1: A slowly varying mean wind level; Vm. This wind component can often be considered as constant for a short term period, say 3 hours. 2: A rapidly fluctuating wind component, Vt, riding on the mean wind speed. The period of fluctuations will be from second to some few minutes.

Power spectrum

Storm spectrum

Year

Few days

Hour

1 min.

1 sek

Turbulence Speed

Mean wind speed Time Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft 1

At a given point, the resulting wind speed can be written: V(t) = Vm(t) + Vt(t) The mean wind speed is typically the largest. Terrain roughness govern the ratio. The ratio between standard deviation of Vt and Vm is called turbulence intencity. Typical turbulence intencity over ocean with storm waves is about 0.12. The wind speed varies with height, see eq(1a 1d) in Statoil metocean report. For engineering purposes, the mean wind speed is described by a distribution function often close to a Rayleigh distribution. The mean direction is described by a probability mass function for direction sectors (often) of 30 deg. width. The mean wind speed corresponds to a given length of averaging. Standard meteorological averaging is 10 min.., in design the length of averaging is often taken to be 1 hour. Wind speed will increase with decreasing length of averaging. The ration between a 15sek average and a 1-hour average 10m above sea level is 1.37, see table in Statoil report for other examples. Example of a wind description for design purposes is shown by Statoil Metocean report.
Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft 2

For structures or structural components where the turbulent wind may cause a dynamic behaviour, the frequency spectrum for wind speed is given by Eq. (2a and 2b) of Statoil Report or Norsok N-003. This wind spectrum is deduced from wind measurements at Frya. The turbulent wind is not fully correlated over the size of structures. Coherence spectrum between two points are given in Statoil report or Norsok N-003. The loads on structures not exposed to dynamic behaviour can be calculated considering the wind as static: If structural dimensions are less than 50m, 3s gust should be used. If structures are larger, 15s gust can be used. For structures which are exposed to simultaneous actions from wind and waves, and where the wave loading is dominating, the length of averaging of wind gust may be taken to be 1 minute. Check with coming editions of Norsok for possible changes.

Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft

3.5.3 Wind forces The wind force is proportinal to the wind speed squared: F = k * (Vm + Vt)2 = Vm2 + 2VmVt + Vt2 =(ca) Vm2 +2VmVt The mean wind gives a constant force on the structure, while the turbulent wind yields a force proportional the the turbulent wind speed. Practical problems: Offset and mooring line forces for ships and floating platforms. The natural periods of the surge, sway and yaw are often in the order of 1-2 minute, i.e. a period band where the wind frequncy spectrum has a considerable power density. For this sort of problem, a dynamic analysis has to be carried out involving the wind power spectrum. Wind loading on flare towers and drilling towers. A quasistatic analysis is often possible accounting for some dynamics by a proper dynamic amplification factor. The wind loading on complicated structures are determined by means of tests in wind tunel. Remember that in all cases mentioned above, one will also have to include the simultaneous affect of waves.

Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft

The static wind force on a structural member or surface acting normal to the member or surface is given by: FW = C A V2 sin C shape coefficient, see DNV 30.5 density of air (= 1.225 kg/m3 for dry air) A projected area of member normal to force direction angle between wind and axis of the exposed member For the wind load of a plane truss, the load can be calculated by using A as the enclosed area of truss if an effective shape parameter is used, C=Ce, and the transparancy of the truss is accounted for by multiplying the area with the solidity ratio . Ce is found in DNV 30.5. If more than one member or truss are located behind each other, shielding effect can be accounte for by multiplying loads given above by the shielding factor, . Values for are given in DNV 30.5. Regarding the shape coefficicent, it is recommended that DNV 30.5 or an similar reference are consulted. NB: For structural sides not facing the wind, a considerable suction force can occurr, see Fig. 3.14 b in kompendium, Moan (2004).

Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft

If structure or structural component can be exposed to wind induced dynamics, the variability of the wind force is to be accounted for: FW(t,z) = C A (Vm(z)2 + 2* Vm(z)*Vt(z,t)) * sin It is seen that load is linear with respect to wind speed (since Vt2 term is neglected). If the wind induced response is linear function of load, the wind response may be obtained using frequency domain analysis, i.e. the cross spectral density for the dynamic wind load is multiplied by response transfer function in order to obtain response spectra for dynamic wind induced response. Alternatively, wind histories for a number of load points may be simulated from wind spectrum and corresponding time histories for the response found by solving the equation of motion in time domain. The total extreme wind induced response can be found by: F3h-max (Vm) = Fm + g * (Vm) g extreme value factor for 3-hour maximum dyn. response standard deviation of wind response under consideration

Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft

Vortex Induced Vibrations (brief introduction) Vortex shedding frequency in steady flow is given by: f = St * V/D St is the Strouhal number, V is wind speed and D is structural diameter. A critical velocity is defined as the velocity giving vortex shedding frequencies equal to the natural frequency of the structural member: VC = 1/St * fN * D fN natural frequency of structural member. St is a function of the Reynolds number, Re = VD/, where is the kinematic viscosity of air, (= 1.45*10-5 m2/s at 15o and standard atmospheric pressure. St is given in Fig. 7.1 in DNV 30.5. A state of quasi-resonant vibriations of a member may take place if wind velocity is in the range: K1*VC < V < K2*VC If possible, one should require: VC > 1/K1 *Vmax Not always possible and maybe unnecessary strict criterium.
Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft 7

3.6 Wave and Current loads

Water levels:
Maximum still water level Positive storm surge Highest astronomical tide (HAT)

Tidal range

Mean still water level

Lowest astronomical tide (LAT) Negative storm surge Minimum still water level

Classification: Statoil internal Status: Draft