The Effects of Topside Structure Modeling on Wind Tunnel Tests of a FPSO Vessel

摘要

This study investigated the effects of turbulent wind profiles, level ofdetails of topside structures and operation modes of gantry cranes onwind loads of a FPSO vessel. In order to do the research objectives, weperformed a series of wind tunnel tests for a FPSO vessel model withscale of 1/200. It was found from the tests that the wind loads measuredat low detail model were mostly conservative results compared withthose at high detail model. The measured wind loads at the NMDprofile with exponent of 0.14 revealed roughly 19% greater than thoseat the Frøya profile in the entire range of wind directions. Slightlyhigher mean wind speeds of the NMD profile with exponent of 0.14compared with the Frøya profile resulted in the increase of wind loads.The wind forces increased by up to 8.6% at operating mode comparedwith parking mode of crane.