Extreme loads in taut mooring lines and mooring line induced damping: an asymptotic approach

A mooring line submerged in water is considered. The equations for the tens ion in the line and damping due to viscous drag forces on the line is devel oped under the assumption that the tension in the line is large relative to the submerged weight of the line. Simple approximate expressions for the m aximum tension as well as mooring line damping are obtained. The asymptotic results are compared with results from finite element calculations as well as model tests with a towing line. The comparisons are quite favorable and indicate that the method captures the main physical effects involved. The method is very fast and thus well suited for estimating damping at early de sign stages for deep water taut mooring systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.