Parallel implementations of coupled formulations for the analysis of floating production systems, part I: Coupling formulations

Considering the analysis of Floating Production Systems (FPS), this work describes two different formulations for the coupling of the hydrodynamic behavior of the hull and the hydrodynamic/structural behavior of the mooring lines and risers. These formulations are characterized by how the equations of motion of the hull and the lines are associated and solved.The first formulation is a “weak coupling” (WkC) scheme, focused on the equations of motion of the hull: the coupling is performed by forces acting on the right-hand side of the hull equations. The second formulation is a “strong coupling” (StC) scheme, where the Finite Element meshes of all mooring lines and risers are assembled together, and the hull is considered as a “node” of this model.Results of case studies employing the WkC and StC formulations are presented; based on these results, the behavior of these formulations is compared, in terms of their accuracy, computational performance, and applicability to different types of offshore systems. These results correspond to sequential implementations of the coupling formulations; further studies are presented in a subsequent paper, regarding different domain decomposition strategies associated to these coupled formulations, implemented on computers with parallel architecture.

► This paper addresses the coupled analysis of floating production systems.
► Two formulations for coupling the equations of motion of hull and lines are described.
► The coupling schemes are characterized by how the equations are associated and solved.
► They are compared in terms of accuracy, performance, and applicability.
► They can be associated to domain decomposition strategies implemented on parallel processo.