Investigation of Low-Frequency Pitch Motion Characteristics for KRISO Standard Offshore Structure (K-Semi) Moored with a Truncation Mooring System

Abstract

In this study, a model test was carried out to evaluate the station-keeping performance of Korea Research Institute of the Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) standard semi-submersible, K-Semi in the Deep Ocean Engineering Basin (DOEB). The test was performed using a 1/50 scaled model with 12 mooring lines. The water depth was set to 3.2 m using a moveable bottom structure and truncated mooring lines. The dynamic behavior of the K-Semi was examined using a free decay test and regular wave as well as irregular wave tests of 1800. Large surge, heave and pitch due to drift motion from second-order effect were observed. The reason for the excessive low-frequency pitch motion is attributed to the restoring force and moment related to the mooring system as excessive surge occurred. The numerical model of K-Semi with the truncated mooring system was tuned and calibrated using model test results such as free decay and regular wave tests. Through numerical analysis, the motion characteristics of the K-Semi were compared with irregular model test results. In the case of a semi-submersible using a mooring system, it is observed that excessive pitch motion due to vertical restoring force and moment may occur when large horizontal displacement occurs. The effect of low-frequency pitch motion related to surge motion is an important factor in upwell estimation as well as second-order motion in referred DNV-GL OTG13.