Advances in the three-dimensional fluid–structure–soil interaction analysis of offshore jack-up structures

The operation of mobile jack-up drilling rigs in harsher ocean environments requires enhanced understanding of their behaviour in storm loading conditions and suitable numerical simulation tools for the assessment of their suitability for a particular site. This paper introduces the numerical program SOS_3D, which incorporates appropriate models for the three components of the structure, the soil and the environmental loading of offshore structures like jack-ups. The program is formulated for three-dimensional (3D) analysis and provides an integrated approach to the inter-related aspects of fluid–structure–soil interaction analysis. In applying the program, results of an example jack-up subjected to both symmetric and asymmetric loading situations are compared and discussed. Quasistatic push-over analyses are used to illustrate aspects of jack-up behaviour in three dimensions. Furthermore, jack-up response to storm loading conditions is predicted in dynamic wave loading analyses, demonstrating the necessity of 3D dynamic simulations and emphasising the benefit of using a force-resultant foundation model based on plasticity theory.