WINDS, WAVES, WEATHER DICTATE OFFSHORE STRUCTURE DESIGN

Forces produced by wind, wave, and current are the primary design loads on mobile drilling units and other offshore structures and are normally treated as quasi-static loads in designing such structures. Since the loads on the structure directly influence the weights, costs and design concepts considered, it is vital to accurately determine these dynamic, ever-changing forces which can rarely be expressed as a mathematical function of time. These forces are analyzed in the paper. Because of the importance of the loading calculations in the design of a structure, this portion of the design phase receives considerably attention. The load force calculations are carefully reviewed and compared against past experience. To design for loads which are ultraconservative adds unnecessary expense to the structure; to design for loads which are not conservative could result in loss of the structure.

• Corporate Authors:

  Petroleum Engineer Publishing Company

  Box 1589
  Dallas, TX  United States  75221
• Authors:
  • Gunderson, R H
• Publication Date: 1973-5

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • Petroleum Engineer International
  • Volume: 45
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Petroleum Engineer Publishing Company

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Force; Offshore structures; Structural design; Waves
• Old TRIS Terms: Wave forces on structures
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Marine Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050172
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 14 1973 12:00AM