Experimental investigation on response of mating operations in the elastically-connected twin-barge floatover installation

• Published in: Journal of marine science and technology 2022-03, Vol.27 (1), p.549-565
• Main Authors: Bai, Xiaodong, Luo, Hanbing, Xie, Peng, Li, Huailiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Automotive Engineering; Barges; Dynamic response; Engineering; Engineering Design; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Extreme values; Impact loads; Load transfer; Loads (forces); Mechanical Engineering; Offshore Engineering; Original Article; Reproductive behaviour; Sensitivity analysis; Wave direction; Wave height
• ISSN: 0948-4280; 1437-8213
• DOI: 10.1007/s00773-021-00853-7

The dynamic response and impact loads during the mating operation in the elastically-connected twin-barge floatover installation are experimentally analyzed. Three representative intermediate load transfer stages of the floatover installation were modeled in the physical model test, including 0%, 50% and 100% stages. Motion behaviors of two identical barges connected with the topsides by the rotatable hemisphere-type mating units in head, quarter, and beam waves were investigated. The short-term extreme values of the nonlinear impact loads on mating units were evaluated. The results show that the twin-barge motions are largely synchronized in head waves and differ greatly in quarter and beam waves. The topsides exhibit relatively small motions, which are beneficial for the mating operation. The results indicate that the mating units are subject to larger impact loads at the 100% stage than the 0% stage. In the quarter and beam waves, the hawsers attached to the leeward barge bear large forces at the 100% stage, indicating that much attention should be paid on the 100% stage in the twin-barge floatover system. Sensitivity analysis of loads to the wave direction indicates that the quarter and beam waves lead to much larger motions and impact loads. The impact loads are greatly sensitive to the wave height and increase significantly with increasing the wave height.