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Experimental Investigation and Prediction Model of the Loads Exerted by Oblique Internal Solitary Waves on FPSO

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Abstract

By using a 30-meter-long wave flume equipped with a double-plate wave maker, a series of depression ISWs were generated in a density stratified two-layer fluid and the forces exerted by oblique internal solitary waves (ISWs) on fixed FPSO model had been measured. According to the laboratory experiments, a numerical flume taken the applicability of KdV, eKdV and MCC ISWs theories in consideration was adopted to study the force components. Based on the experimental data and the force composition, the simplified prediction model was established. It was shown that the horizontal and transversal loads consisted of two parts: the Froude—Krylov force that could be calculated by integrating the dynamic pressure induced by ISW along the FPSO wetted surface, as well as the viscous force that could be obtained by multiplying the friction coefficient Cfx (Cfy), correction factor Kx (Ky) and the integration of particle tangential velocity along the FPSO wetted surface. The vertical load was mainly the vertical Froude—Krylov force. Based on the experimental results, a conclusion can be drawn that the friction coefficient Cf and correction factor K were regressed as a relationship of Reynolds number Re, Keulegan—Carpenter number KC, upper layer depth h1/h and ISW accident angle α. Moreover, the horizontal friction coefficient Cfx yielded the logarithmic function with Re, and transversal friction coefficient Cfy obeyed the exponent function with Re, while the correction factors Kx and Ky followed power function with KC. The force prediction was also performed based on the regression formulae and pressure integral. The predicted results agreed well with the experimental results. The maximum forces increase linearly with the ISWs amplitude. Besides, the upper layer thickness had an obvious influence on the extreme value of the horizontal and transversal forces.

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Funding

The present work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11802301) and the Sci-tech Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration (Grant No. SKJC-KJ-2019KY08).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, China

    Rui-rui Zhang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Rui-rui Zhang, Ke Chen & Yun-xiang You

  3. China Ship Development and Design Center (Shanghai), Shanghai, 201108, China

    Hong-wei Wang

  4. SJTU Yazhou Bay Institute of Deep-sea Technology, Sanya, 572000, China

    Ke Chen & Yun-xiang You

  5. Dayang Offshore Equipment Co., Ltd, Nanjing, 210032, China

    Shuguang Zhang & Xiao-hu Xiong

Authors
  1. Rui-rui Zhang
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  2. Hong-wei Wang
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  3. Ke Chen
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  4. Yun-xiang You
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  5. Shuguang Zhang
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  6. Xiao-hu Xiong
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Correspondence to Ke Chen.

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Zhang, Rr., Wang, Hw., Chen, K. et al. Experimental Investigation and Prediction Model of the Loads Exerted by Oblique Internal Solitary Waves on FPSO. China Ocean Eng 36, 179–190 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-022-0017-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-022-0017-8

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