Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Steel Lazy Wave Riser using Lumped Mass Line Model

Abstract

In this study, the numerical code for the 3D nonlinear dynamic analysis of an SLWR (Steel Lazy Wave Riser) was developed using the lumped mass line model in a FORTRAN environment. Because the lumped mass line model is an explicit method, there is no matrix operation. Thus, the numerical algorithm is simple and fast. In the lumped mass line model, the equations of motion for the riser were derived by applying the various forces acting on each node of the line. The applied forces at the node of the riser consisted of the tension, shear force due to the bending moment, gravitational force, buoyancy force, riser/ground contact force, and hydrodynamic force based on the Morison equation. Time integration was carried out using a Runge-Kutta fourth-order method, which is known to be stable and accurate. To validate the accuracy of the developed numerical code, simulations using the commercial software OrcaFlex were carried out simultaneously and compared with the results of the developed numerical code. To understand the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of an SLWR, dynamic simulations of SLWRs excited at the hang-off point and of SLWRs in regular waves were carried out. From the results of these dynamic simulations, the displacements at the maximum bending moments at important points of the design, like the hang-off point, sagging point, hogging points, and touchdown point, were observed and analyzed.