Wind Load JIP FPSO

Photo
Peutz

The Wind Load JIP is an international research initiative aimed at setting new standards for wind tunnel measurements of wind loads and CFD calculations for the maritime and offshore industry. Wind loads are of critical importance for stability of vessels and offshore units as well as for DP performance, mooring loads and interference between structures (i.e. tandem offloading shuttle tanker-FPSO). The research consortium consists of Marin, BMT, DNW, TUe and Peutz.
 
The main objectives for the Wind Load JIP are:

  • Standard for the modeling of atmospheric boundary layer wind profiles and wind flow around structures in wind tunnels and in CFD models.
  • Carefully checked wind load coefficients for FPSO and semi-submersible unit.
  • Demonstrate nowadays CFD capabilities for wind load predictions for complex offshore and ship structures.
  • CFD and wind tunnel benchmark study.

Peutz has conducted wind tunnel measurements of wind loads on a scale model of a FPSO and a semi-submersible production unit. The measurements have been conducted in 2 types of atmospheric boundary layer. The boundary layers were modelled according to ISO 19901-1 for wind velocities of 25 m/s and 45 m/s (at 10 m above sea level). The effects of changes in roughness of the boundary layer, variation of configurations as well as sensitivity to different types of set-up have been investigated.

Main particulars

Vessel type: Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO)
Length over all: 275 m
Beam: 50 m
Draft: 7 m
Client: Marin