Due to increase of global demand for renewable energies, assessment of environmental forces become an important aspect of offshore structures which is the key to ensure optimized and reliable development of this industry. The present study aims to bring out an integrated approach to drag coefficient estimation for circular cylinders covered by biocolonization. Hard and long flapping (Kelp) species were chosen as the study area to demonstrate the effect of biofouling. An integrated approach including the percentage of cover, surface roughness ratio, biofouling species, and aggregating pattern was employed to investigate the steady state drag force coefficient. Several experimental data were collected from previous researchers considering afore-mentioned parameters.

This paper proposes two independent equations for hard and long flapping biofouling using regression analysis method. Both equations were compared with experimental data; a multivariate statistical analysis by Taylor diagram was also performed resulting in reasonable values.

It is worth mentioning that the present work is part of a wider study concerning the effects of biofouling components on the hydrodynamic forces of structures such as jackets and floating offshore structures. The first part of the study considered the investigation of the existing data.

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