WINDLOAD sets the foundations for new WINDLASS JIP

摘要

The remark "one man's 'stiff breeze' might be another's 'soft breeze'" may have been acceptable for a naval officer in the 18th century, but today engineers seek hard numbers when working on the design of floaters. The three-year WINDLOAD JIP aimed to address this problem and improve the accuracy and reliability of wind load predictions on large floating structures, especially related to stability and mooring. The first task of WINDLOAD consisted of an extensive benchmark study for wind tunnel tests at three major boundary layer facilities in Europe. A ship-shaped production platform (FPSO) and a column-stabilised production platform (semi-submersible) were tested. In the boundary layer wind tunnel, the appropriate vertical velocity profile was carefully adjusted by using upstream spires and/or barriers, in addition to a long fetch of roughness elements. The wind tunnel benchmark study showed very similar results from the three facilities, but there were still more than enough improvements to be made.