Research on the DSF for float-over of super-heavy topside in the South China Sea

As a unique structural system in the float-over installation, DSF supports topside weight in the load-out and tow process, and cushions collision loads of the topside and the barge in the mating process. Based on the float-over installation of LW3-1CEP topside, the paper makes deeply studies on DSF from many aspects, such as general layout, span change, DSU layout, special cap limit, space bound, member optimization, weight control and so on. And then this paper discusses a new type of DSF system with greater capability to support topside weight of up to 27,000 metric tons, meeting functional requirements of super-heavy topside float-over installation. The research of the new type of DSF will be a guide and reference for future heavier topside float-over installation.