Dynamic Response Analysis of a Spar Platform Subjected to Wind and Wave Forces

Results from a study on dynamic response analysis of a floating production unit (FPSO) excited by wave and wind forces are presented. The FPSO is examplified by a Spar platform considering the motion in surge and pitch. The wind gust is modelled with the Harris [4] and Ochi and Shin [7] wind gust spectra. The effect of the wave age on the wind gust spectrum is included by adopting the Volkov wave age dependent sea surface roughness parameter [10]; the wave age independent Charnock roughness parameter [2] is also used as a reference. Examples of results demonstrate clear effects of wave age on the dynamic response. Moreover, for high mean wind speeds the total wind response is much smaller than the wave response, but for low mean wind speeds the wind appears to be more important.