Fatigue of Floating Offshore Structures: Modelling Uncertainty in Hydrodynamics and Fatigue Properties

by S. R. Winterstein, Stanford Univ,
I. B. Kroon, Stanford Univ,
T. C. Ude, Stanford Univ,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Structural Engineering in Natural Hazards Mitigation

Abstract:

For floating offshore structures such as tension leg platforms (TLPs), one form of loading uncertainty is due to nonlinear diffraction forces, which can excite lightly damped vertical vibration modes. These high-frequency motions can have significant damage potential for the tethers attached to the structure. We demonstrate how to include these nonlinear diffraction effects on fatigue predictions. Numerical results are shown for a specific hydrodynamic model and S-N curve. We then show how uncertainty in these quantities can be modelled, and the effect of propagating this uncertainty through the fatigue analysis. Relations are sought to predict fatigue variability from marginal variability in hydrodynamic properties.

Subject Headings: Offshore structures | Fatigue (material) | Uncertainty principles | Hydrodynamics | Material properties | Structural behavior | Offshore platforms

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search