DRAGGED SURGE MOTION OF TENSION LEG PLATFORMS AND STRAINED ELASTIC TETHERS

This paper presents an analytical solution for the dynamic behavior of both the platform and tethers in the tension leg platform system when the platform system is subjected to the wave-induced surge motion and the flow-induced drag motion. Along with the analysis the coupling pr oblem of a two dimensional tension leg platform interacting with a mon ochromatic linear wave train in an inviscid and incompressible fluid i s being considered. The scattering problem and radiation problem are f irst solved independently and then combined together to resolve for al l unknowns. The dynamic behavior of the platform and tethers was furth er solved based on these solutions. The material property and the dime nsional effect for the tether incorporated in the tension leg platform system are both taken into account in the analytical analysis, Corres ponding to the variation of material properties and tether dimensions, it was found that the dynamic behavior of both the tether of tension leg platform and the platform itself is closely related to the materia l property and the dimension of the tether. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.