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 of details of topside structures and operation modes of gantry cranes on wind loads of a FPSO vessel. In order to do the research objectives, we performed a series of wind tunnel tests for a FPSO vessel model with scale of 1/200. It was found from the tests that the wind loads measured at low detail model were mostly conservative results compared with those at high detail model. The measured wind loads at the NMD profile with exponent of 0.14 revealed roughly 19% greater than those at the Fr?ya profile in the entire range of wind directions. Slightly higher mean wind speeds of the NMD profile with exponent of 0.14 compared with the Fr?ya profile resulted in the increase of wind loads. The wind forces increased by up to 8.6% at operating mode compared with parking mode of crane.