By Mazlan Muslim, MEng

UniKL MIMET

KC No.
The Keulegan Carpenter no. is a measure for the
viscous effects. An increasing KC value means that
flow separation becomes important.
KC = UmT/D
where Um the maximum velocity, T the wave period &
D the cylinder diameter.
For the wave experiment the diffraction number is
always smaller than 0.2. The cylinder can be
considered a small body with respect to the wave
length. The KC no. ranges from 3 < KC < 25.
KC Value
The KC value corresponds with velocities determined
by nonlinear stream function wave models. The values
of the KC no. mean that both the drag & inertia
components are important for the horizontal wave
force in the wave experiment.
The max. wave force range from 16 to 166 kN. The min.
forces work in opposite wave direction. The min. forces
range from -9 to -69 kN.
The wave loads on the cylinder are calculated using
Morrison equation.
Morisons Equation
The wave loads are calculated by Morisons equation in
conjunction with linear Airy wave theory. Morisons equation
expressed the wave force as a summation of inertia force & drag
force:
F = Fi + Fd
F = (CmD**2/4)u + (CdD/2)IuIu
Where F is the wave force;
Fi inertia force
Fd drag force
Cm, Cd inertia & drag coefficients
IuI and u are water particle velocity normal to the cylinder
u water particle acceleration
seawater density, D member diameter

Water Particle
The water particle kinematics are determined by the
following equations:
Horizontal water particle velocity:
u = ((H coshks)/(T sinhkd))cos
Horizontal water particle acceleration:
u = ((2**2H coshks)/(T sinhkd))sin
where s = z + d
= kx t
k wave no. (2/L);
T wave period
z height of the point of evaluation of wave particle
kinematics



Contd
x is point of evaluation of water particle kinematics
from the origin in the horizontal direction;
t is time instant at which water particle kinematics is
evaluated;
L is wave length;
H is wave height;
d water depth.

Problem 1
A TLP is moored over a well in 120 m of water offshore.
It has a vertical rigid marine riser (diameter of 0.70 m)
that is subjected to wave loads. For a wave 90 m long &
4.5 m high, determine which horizontal wave load
component dominates at each of the following depths:
z = 0, -5, & -10 m. Base the comparison on a unit
length of riser at each depth. Assume that the drag &
added mass coefficients are both 1. State any
assumptions you make & show all work to justify your
answer.
Solution
We recognize that the max. drag force will occur under
the crest (at a phase angle of /2) & the max. inertia
force will occur at a phase angle of .
Wave no.: k = 2/L = 2/90 = 0.06981
Calculate the wave frequency note that the tanh
terms approaches 1 because the water is actually deep,
as indicated by our rule of thumb guide that says the
water is not deep if d/L < 0.5. Here we have d/L =
120/90. We can still use the intermediate water depth
equations, but they do simplify:
Contd
**2 = kgtanhkd = 0.06981 x 9.806 x 1 = 0.6845
= 0.8274
Calculate the wave no. k = 2/L = 2/90 = 0.06981
Calculate the Keulegan-Carpenter no. Kc = H/D
= x 4.5/0.70 = 20.2
It tells us the drag & inertia loads will be about
compatible. We simply have to calculate the load
components at each depth & compare them we need
only consider the max. loads for each component & we
know where these occur.
Contd
Max. drag occurs at = /2 where max. horizontal
wave particle velocity occurs.
Max. inertia occurs at = where max. horizontal
wave particle acceleration occurs.
Plug into the equations & solve for velocities &
accelerations at each depth
Contd
max u max du/dt dF drag dF inertia
1.862 1.540 1243 1215
1.313 1.086 619 857
0.926 0.766 308 605

The load components are of similar magnitude: drag is
slightly higher at the top, but as it decays more quickly
than the inertia force, the latter becomes the greater at
the other 2 depths.