Flow Induced Motions (FIM) of a single-cylinder VIVACE Converter is investigated using two-dimensional Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations with the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model at Reynolds numbers (30,000 ≤ Re ≤120,000, 5.50≤U*≤9.85) in the TrSL3 flow regime. Computational results compare very well with experimental data. With implementation of Passive Turbulence Control (PTC), the VIVACE Converter can harness hydrokinetic energy from currents or tides over an expanded range of FIM synchronization, including Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) and galloping. The General Grid Interface (GGI) with topological mesh changes is proved to be an effective method for handling high-amplitude FIM response. Within the test Reynolds number range, five regions are clearly observed, including the no-FIM range, the VIV initial branch, the VIV upper branch, transition from VIV to galloping, and galloping. The power envelope calculated based on the CDF simulations for FIM agrees very well with the corresponding power envelope generated based on experiments. The range between VIV and galloping can be eliminated by adjusting the spring-stiffness and the harnessing damping-ratio. This is verified by both experiments and numerical simulation.

In the process of exploitation of oil and gas in deeper water and ultra deep water, the problem of how to guarantee the effective support for work boats is inevitable. This is especially vital for the oilfields in harsh environment several hundreds of nautical miles away from the terrestrial supply center. In order to solve logistic support problem, an ultra large floating system concept arising from the intermediate base was put forward with functions of material reserves, refuge harbor for work boats, and landing pad for helicopters. The ring ultra large floating system with outer diameter of 400 m comprises eight modules and each module has four columns with heavy draft. The wave chamber composed of horizontal perforated double-layer breakwaters is positioned close to the water plane to reduce the reflection and dynamic pressures on the vertical hull. The applicable water depth can exceed 2000 m. This paper describes a physical test for the purpose of evaluating the various functions of ULFS concept.

Traditionally, a key component of the design philosophy applied to high-pressure pipelines has been the stipulation that the nominal hoop stress is less than some fraction of the specified minimum yield strength (SMYS). However, more recently both designers and operators have recognised that whilst this approach generally leads to conservatively safe designs, there may be some situations in which the conservatism is not adequate. This has resulted in a move towards limit state, and structural reliability based, methods that address actual failure modes, and consequently the contributions to structural integrity of other factors in addition to stress. One such failure mode is the puncture of a pipeline wall due an external force. This situation can arise from the impact of excavating machinery for onshore pipelines or drop objects and anchors for offshore lines. A limit state function describing this failure mode is given in DNV guidelines No 13. However, this function does not take account of the internal pressure. In this paper the influence of pressure on the pipeline indentation is addressed using both theoretical and finite element analyses. A closed-form solution of force-deformation relationship based on a consideration of rigid-plastic deformation theory, that gives a good agreement with results from both FE analyses and experimental tests, is presented. The analytical results show that indentation force, and the maximum stress/strain, required to produce a given dent depth, increase with increasing internal pressure. However, the relationship between indentation force and maximum stress/strain is not sensitive to internal pressure. The analysis therefore shows that an indentation force criterion governed solely by the dent depth, such as that given in DNV guidelines No. 13, may be highly unconservative when the pressure in the pipeline is high. Consequently, a new local denting criterion for puncture of pressurised pipes, which is based the maximum acceptable strain of the pipe material, and thereby removes the above unconservatsim, has been proposed and is presented in this paper.