Extreme Response Statistics of Fixed Offshore Structures Subjected to Ringing Loads

This paper describes an efficient Monte Carlo based method for prediction of extreme response statistics of fixed offshore structures subjected to random seas. The nonlinear structural response known as “ringing” is studied, which is caused by the wave impact force on structural support units. Common challenge for design of such structures is a sound estimate of the hydrodynamic load including diffraction effects. The aim of the work was to develop specific methods which make it possible to extract the necessary information about the extreme response from relatively short time histories. The method proposed in this paper opens up the possibility to predict simply and efficiently both short-term and long-term extreme response statistics. The results presented are based on extensive simulation results for the large fixed platform operating on the Norwegian continental shelf. Structural response time histories, measured in MARINTEK (MT) wave basin lab, were used to validate numerical results.