Probabilistic Models Applicable to the Short-Term Extreme Response Analysis of Jack-Up Platforms

Abstract

There is a steadily increasing demand for the use of jack-up units in deeper water and harsher conditions. Confidence in their use in these environments requires jack-up analysis techniques to reflect accurately the physical processes occurring. However, nearly all analyses are deterministic in nature and do not account for the inherent variability in governing parameters and models. In this paper, probabilistic models are used to develop an understanding of the response behavior of jack-ups, with particular emphasis placed on the extreme deck displacement due to a short-term event. Variables within the structural, foundation and wave loading models are assigned probability distributions and their influence on the response statistics is quantified using a response surface methodology.