Method and apparatus for damping the movement is- tural of a marine structure due to excitation of wavelets

摘要

The present invention generally relates to devices and methods used to suppress the motion of an offshore structure due to wind, wave, seismic, and current forces. More specifically, the invention suppresses structural excitation due to secondary wave forces. The apparatus comprises a mechanical energy absorbing means and a submerged mass. The mechanical energy absorbing means may be a combination of linear or non-linear springs and dampers and is attached to the structure so the vibrating motion may be transferred to the motion damper. The proper weight or size of the damper and mechanical energy absorbing means is determined by first measuring the natural frequency of the structure and the mass of the structure then using those numbers in an equation to calculate the mass and spring constant for the desired apparatus.