Numerical simulation of the heave motion of a deep draft semi-submersible platform

To optimize the heave motion performance of a semi-submersible platform, according to the DPS 2001-4 deep draft semi-submersible platform, the heave response amplitude operators for the platform were obtained through numerical iteration, and the viscous damping was linearized in the numerical simulation. Based on the heave response amplitude operator (RAO), the influence of the heave plate on the platform heave motion RAO was analyzed, and the platform heave motion extremes under 100-yr return periods for ocean conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and the South China Sea were calculated. The numerical results indicated that the heave plate can restrain the heave motion response of the platform, and the platform heave motion extremes gradually decrease with the increase of the heave plate depth, but would tend to be constant if the depth of heave plate exceeded 100 m.