Soil resistance around embedded mooring chains influences the line tension and load angle experienced by anchors. This paper presents a numerical model for catenary moorings that captures the evolution of the inverse catenary shape incorporating the effects of soil consolidation. The model enables the calculation of staged, operational loading conditions in the time domain by incorporating a two-dimensional strength mapping scheme and employs a preliminary method to capture consolidation effects on the local seabed strength around the chain in space and time. The paper illustrates that differences in the typically assumed mooring behaviour can occur over a relatively short timeframe and can have considerable influence on anchor design parameters.
Yih Shan Yap, Conleth D. O'Loughlin and Joe G. Tom
Keywords: inverse catenary, consolidation, numerical modelling, whole-life design methodologies
Publisher: DFI