Transfer Path Analysis for Semisubmersible Platforms Based on Noisy Measured Data

A new energy transfer path analysis (TPA) method that aims to analyze the transfer path of components with characteristic frequencies in semisubmersible platform structures is proposed in this paper. Due to the complexity of semisubmersible platforms, traditional TPA methods based on measurements are no longer applicable. In the proposed method, the structure is considered to be a “source-path-receiver” system and the vibration signals from the source-points are analyzed first to determine the characteristic components. Then, the signals from the source-points and the receiver-points are decomposed by introducing a state–space model. Through correlation functions, the characteristic components can be extracted, and the transfer path can be obtained by calculating the transmissibility functions. By using transmissibility functions, the proposed method only relies on the output responses and avoids the measurement of force and transfer functions. Three examples, one numerical example containing a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) model and a 5-DOF model, one experiment implemented on a barge, and the data from a dynamic positioning (DP) cabin of a semisubmersible platform were used to investigate the performance of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method can be used to assess the transfer path quantitatively and has potential value of application in engineering.