A Review of the Calculation Methods of Lifting Capacity in Wind Loads on Ocean Platforms

Wind load is a control load that affects the safety of structures in the design of ocean platforms. It has not only direct and powerful effects that may cause structure resonance but also has indirect effects causing waves or currents in the ocean. By analyzing the domestic and international norms, this study presents a review of calculation methods of wind load on ocean platforms, which belongs to large-scale non-entity structure used in the open sea while surrounding wind has no fixed direction. Current computations according to the norms are not accurate, which even not takes the force of the wind against the surface perpendicular to the structure into consideration. Additionally, this study also introduces and compares the lift model of platforms based on different theories, such as vortex-excitation and vibration, engineering structure dynamics, gas flow pressure theory, analyzing their applicability, advantages, and disadvantages. This paper analyzes the limitations and applicable conditions of the existing calculation method itself, such as the lift model is suitable for the existence of stable vortex wake; the calculation method of the structural dynamics of marine engineering must be combined with the wind tunnel test and consider the mistakes caused by the position relationship; the numerical simulation method is accurate but tedious. This study provides an insight into the calculation methods of lift in designing ocean platforms, including the finite element method for simulating fluid force and updating formulas in Chinese norms.