Dynamic Analysis for the Design of CALM System in Shallow and Deep Waters

Abstract

This paper presents a time domain analysis approach to evaluate the dynamic behavior of the catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) system under the maximum operational condition when a tanker is moored to the terminal, and in the survival condition when the terminal is not occupied by a tanker. An analytical model, integrating tanker, hawser, buoy, and mooring lines, is developed to dynamically predict the extreme mooring loads and buoy orbital motions, when responding to the effect of wind, current, wave frequency, and wave drift response. Numerical results describing the dynamic behaviors of the CALM system in both shallow and deepwater situations are presented and discussed. The importance of the line dynamics and hawser coupled buoy-tanker dynamics is demonstrated by comparing the present dynamic analysis with catenary calculation approach. Results of the analysis are compared with model test data to validate the mathematical model presented.