Offshore triceratops with elliptical legs under postulated failure of tethers

Abstract

Offshore Triceratops are classified as form-dominant structures possessing the novelty of counteracting the lateral loads with material strength and geometric form. The deck is supported by the buoyant legs, which are positioned on the seabed using taut-moored tethers. Ball joints connect the legs with the deck and help partially isolate the deck to remain horizontal under waves and wind. While offshore structures commonly have tubular legs, the current study investigates Triceratops with elliptical legs under the postulated failure of tethers. Detailed dynamic analysis under postulated failure conditions is carried out using ANSYS AQWA, while the LIBRIUM analysis is used to obtain the equilibrium position of the platform under intact and postulated failure conditions. Results show that under postulated failure conditions, the peaks of the power spectral density function of the pitch response are seen closer to its natural frequency and the input wave frequency. Ball joints restrain this rotation from transferring to the deck, conforming to one of the advantages of its existence. The fatigue life of tethers calculated for different load cases under intact and postulated failure conditions helps understand the stability conditions of the platform.