A new passive control technique for the suppression of vortex-induced motion in deep-draft semisubmersibles

Abstract The control of vortex-induced motion (VIM) of deep-draft semisubmersibles has recently emerged as a serious concern in offshore semisubmersible platforms subjected to high ocean currents. With the increased draft of semisubmersibles, the coherent wake vortex fields behind the multi-column platforms become quite significant, which increase the impact of the coupled fluid-structure dynamics on the platform motion. In particular, the effective mitigation of the synchronization of wake vortices in a deep-draft semisubmersible is important for the reliable station-keeping and to extend the fatigue life of risers and mooring systems. The present study aims at the development of a passive control technique for the vortex synchronization of deep-draft semisubmersibles (DDS) via continuous cross-sectional twisting of the rounded square column along the spanwise direction. The computations are performed using a hybrid URAN-LES turbulence model based on the finite volume method. A validation study of the numerical results is performed with the available experimental data for the stationary and vibrating configurations of deep-draft semisubmersible. To begin, we first examine the VIM performance of a single column of the semisubmersible with a twisted angle of 45 °. We next examine the design of twisted column to understand its effect on the vorticity dynamics and the VIM response characteristics. In comparison to the untwisted square-column configuration, the twisted column produces the reduction in the transverse (sway) VIM amplitude up to 90% at the peak lock-in condition. The streamwise (surge) amplitude for the twisted-column semisubmersible is also found to be reduced by approximately 1/3 of the amplitude of the square-column counterpart. The twisted surface on the column results in a continuous spanwise (column-wise) variation of the shear-layer separation points. The three-dimensional (3D) variation of separation lines and the pressure distribution along the twisted and the square columns are analyzed to understand the underlying mechanism of the VIM suppression. We find that the modification of vortex shedding due to the variation in the separation line along the twisted column significantly influences the mean and fluctuating hydrodynamic forces. We extend the twisted column concept to the deep-draft semisubmersibles and demonstrate its effectiveness to produce a remarkable degree of VIM suppression. We explore the effects of the orientation of twisted columns and the incidence angle of the oncoming flow and present the 3D wake vortex structures and the motion histories of the DDS configuration.