Effect of Geometric Parameters of New Semisubmersible Platform on Stability and Hydrodynamic Performance

The JCSM concept (short for Jackup Combined Semisubmersible Multifunction Platform) is a new type of semisubmersible platform presented by the first author, which overcomes the shortcomings of the available semisubmersible platforms, and combines the advantages of the traditional semisubmersible platform, the Jackup platform and the new FPSO concept - IQFP. Due to the complicated interaction between stability and hydrodynamic performance, it is necessary to explore the effect of geometrical parameters of the main body on the stability and hydrodynamic performance in order to obtain the optimal design plan of a JCSM platform. Firstly, the structure components and innovations of the JCSM were briefly reviewed in order to facilitate readers to understand its full picture. Then, six independent geometric parameters were selected by carefully studying the shape characteristics of the initial design plan of a JCSM study case. Furthermore, the stability heights and motion responses of various floating bodies of the JCSM case with different geometric parameters in wave were calculated using boundary element method based on potential flow theory. Lastly, effect of the shape parameters on stability and hydrodynamic performance of the JCSM was qualitatively evaluated. The research would shed lights on the shape design of the JCSM main body.