A guide to the analysis and design of compliant offshore structures that highlights a new generation of platforms Offshore Compliant Platforms provides an authoritative guideto the analysis and design of compliant offshore structures and puts the focus on a new generation of platforms such as: triceratops, Buoyant Leg Storage and Regasification platforms. Whilst the authors – noted experts on the topic – include basic information on the conceptual development of conventional platforms, the book presents detailed descriptions of the design and development of new deep-water platforms. The book describes the preliminary design of triceratops in ultra-deep waters and presents a detailed analysis of environmental loads that are inherent in offshore locations such as wave, wind and current. The new methodology for the dynamic analysis of triceratops under ice loads, predominantly in ice-covered regions, is also examined with detailed parametric studies. In addition, the book covers the structural geometry and the various methods of analysis for assessing the performance of any other similar offshore platform under the special loads. A discussion of the fatigue analysis and service life prediction is also included. This important book: • Includes the analysis and design of compliant offshore structures with a focus on a new generation of platforms • Examines the preliminary design of triceratops in ultra-deep waters • Covers an analysis of environmental loads that are inherent in offshore locations such as wave, wind and current • Reviews the structural geometry and various methods of analysis for assessing the performance of any other similar offshore platform under special loads • Discusses fatigue analysis and service life prediction Written for engineers and researchers across engineering including civil, mechanical, structural, offshore, ocean and naval architecture, Offshore Compliant Platforms fills the need for a guide to new offshore platforms that provides an understanding of the behaviour of these structures under different loading conditions.

Compliant Offshore Structures deals with some aspects of the mechanics of compliant offshore structures. Analysis methods for determining the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic behavior, at wave frequencies only, of conventional and novel compliant structure types are described. The contribution of hull configuration for tandem hull vessels and of pneumatic compliances for ship shape and semi-submersible vessels is also emphasized. Comprised of 11 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the various conventional and emerging methods of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic analysis that are available for characterizing compliant marine structures. The response of compliant structures to ocean waves is given emphasis, along with the hydrostatic stability of a compliant vessel. The discussion then turns to the use of analysis methods for a variety of conventional and novel compliant structures such as semi-submersibles, ship forms, tensioned buoyant platforms, crane vessels, and vertical marine risers. However, those compliant structures that are believed to have a future application or, alternatively, are useful in illustrating an interesting performance feature are also considered. Among such structures are those with articulated joints, pneumatic compliances, and tandem hull marine vehicles. This monograph is intended for practicing engineers as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students.

This monograph provides a general background to the modelling of a special class of offshore structures known as compliant structures. External forcing is resisted by buoyancy and tension forces which increase when the structure is slightly offset from its equilibrium. The technical development given in this book is presented in such a way as to highlight the adaptability of the modelling, and the reader is shown how the techniques described can be applied to a variety of different offshore structures.

In historical background of oil and gas exploration industry, over years, fixed offshore platforms are widely used. In the design of fixed offshore structures, as known, they are always attacked by severe environmental loads especially dynamic wave loads which govern the design factor of the platform. In addition, they are found sufficiently rigid to withstand environmental loads in the open sea. However, if soil stiffness under seabed is taken into account, we know that soil layers are not acting as perfectly stiff foundation. Nonlinearity of soil stiffness with its property may affect the global structural stiffness and it is a time-dependent function of total forces at pile head. Therefore, natural frequency of structure becomes nonlinear and it may increase structural response or induce resonance. For design purpose, this book will give distinctively useful ideas to professional design engineers or students who are interested in methodology for modeling of non-linear foundation system of offshore structure. It is also recommended to researchers who would like to extend the scope beyond this book as recommended in the last section.