UK ocean engineering company, Tadek, which offers hydrodynamic studies, has successfully completed a floatover analysis scope, the third the company have carried out in the past year. Tadek has developed its specialist services through a diverse range of projects, successfully supporting over 200 projects worldwide.

The detailed scope of this project was to perform a float-over analysis for a topsides of 14000t at variable load transfer up to Hs of 1-2m.

The purpose of the hydrodynamic study was to obtain the extreme loads on LMUs, DSUs and fenders for the topside floatover operation. Dynamic simulations were carried out for different Load Transfer stages and under combination of various environmental conditions.

The modelling process

The modelling process encompassed the development of a mesh model of the barge, then a diffraction analysis undertaken in OrcaWave to derive hydrodynamic properties and wind and current coefficients derived for individual load transfer cases.

The project mating equipment including the LMUs, DSUs and fenders were modelled based on their stiffness characteristics. The non-linear coupled effects experienced within the floatover system (incl. topside, HTV, fender, etc.) and the resulting 6DOF vessel motions were captured for each design load case.

Each simulation was executed under a series of metocean combination for 300s regular wave analysis, to reduce the computational time and achieve accurate results for FEED analysis. A sensitivity between regular and irregular waves was carried out.

Once completed, the work was delivered to a structural team, who were then able to develop the design and sizing of members.

This video demonstrates how the analysis was delivered with Tadek’s specialist software, which ensures the most complex of situations can be expertly and rigorously deciphered.