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Dynamic Positioning Capability Analysis for Marine Vessels Based on A DPCap Polar Plot Program

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Abstract

Dynamic positioning capability (DPCap) analysis is essential in the selection of thrusters, in their configuration, and during preliminary investigation of the positioning ability of a newly designed vessel dynamic positioning system. DPCap analysis can help determine the maximum environmental forces, in which the DP system can counteract in given headings. The accuracy of the DPCap analysis is determined by the precise estimation of the environmental forces as well as the effectiveness of the thrust allocation logic. This paper is dedicated to developing an effective and efficient software program for the DPCap analysis for marine vessels. Estimation of the environmental forces can be obtained by model tests, hydrodynamic computation and empirical formulas. A quadratic programming method is adopted to allocate the total thrust on every thruster of the vessel. A detailed description of the thrust allocation logic of the software program is given. The effectiveness of the new program DPCap Polar Plot (DPCPP) was validated by a DPCap analysis for a supply vessel. The present study indicates that the developed program can be used in the DPCap analysis for marine vessels. Moreover, DPCap analysis considering the thruster failure mode might give guidance to the designers of vessels whose thrusters need to be safer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Lei Wang, Jian-min Yang & Sheng-wen Xu

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Ship and Deep-Sea Exploration (CISSE), Shanghai, 200240, China

    Lei Wang, Jian-min Yang & Sheng-wen Xu

Authors
  1. Lei Wang
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  2. Jian-min Yang
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  3. Sheng-wen Xu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian-min Yang.

Additional information

Foundation item: The present research is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51179103 and 51709170), the 7th Generation Ultra Deep Water Drilling Unit Innovation Project and the Shanghai Sailing Program (Grant No. 17YF1409700).

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Wang, L., Yang, Jm. & Xu, Sw. Dynamic Positioning Capability Analysis for Marine Vessels Based on A DPCap Polar Plot Program. China Ocean Eng 32, 90–98 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-018-0010-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-018-0010-4

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