On the parametric dependence of springing damping of TLP and Spar columns

The non-linear viscous damping forces on a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) colum n experiencing "springing" vibration are calculated by directly solving the Navier-Stokes equations. Different characteristics;of heave damping have b een found in two different regimes in the ranges of Keulegan-Carpenter (KC) from 0.001 to 1.0 and beta from 89 236 to 435 298. At very low KC, the hea ve damping force tends to be approximately linear with the velocity, wherea s a definite non-linear dependence on the velocity has been found as KC inc reases. It is found that the laminar boundary layer theory based on the inf inite length circular cylinder assumption is still suitable to the friction drag estimation at very low KC, but the leading edge effect is not negligi ble as KC approaches 2 pi/(D/T-d) (D = diameter of the cylinder, and T-d = the draft of the cylinder). From the present numerical estimation, one call conclude that a uniform scaling law cannot be applied, and the scaling law s for the heave damping estimation of a TLP column in two different regimes have been presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.