Analysis method for the mooring system of a flexible floating body

Abstract

The theory of three-dimensional hydroelasticity for free flexible floating bodies and the theory of mooring system analysis are integrated into a complete theoretical framework for analyzing the dynamical response of the mooring system of a flexible floating body. The effect of the elastic deformations of the floating body on the mooring system analysis is investigated. The mathematical model based on the perturbation method for the dynamic tension response analysis of the mooring system is presented. Three-dimensional hydroelasticity theory and Goodman-Lance method are used to solve the hydroelastic response of the floating body and dynamic tension response of the mooring line respectively. The coupling relationship are also given and used to solve motion equations of the mooring lines. The theory presented in the paper is illustrated by a numerical example. And the results show that the elasticity of the very large floating structure has considerable effect on the dynamic responses of the mooring system.