Numerical Simulation of the Dynamic Behavior of Deep-Water Semi-Submersible Platform under Wind and Waves

Abstract

Taking a deep-water semi-submersible drilling platform and its mooring system which will be used in South China Sea area as an example, the motion responses of this platform in the frequency and time domains are analysed. In the frequency domain, the three-dimensional potential flow theory is emploied to calculate, the response function of six degrees of freedom and some hydrodynamic parameters, such as additional mass and additional damping. In the time domain, the non-linear time-domain coupling analytical method is used to calculate the motion responses of this platform under the action of wind and waves. Then according to the time series of motion response, the influence of the Jonswap spectrum’s parameters, including wave height and peak factors on the platform’s heave response is analysed.This numerical simulation results provides an reference for the target platform’s actual construction.