Analysis and design of the SEVAN FPSO against extreme ice actions

Abstract

Generally, the main objective of this thesis has been completed for the improvement of previous master thesis work. The preparation and background review are accomplished quite sufficient and reflects a good understanding of ice-structure interaction. The nonlinear simulation based on ABAQUS takes a long time, with efforts in model error checking, including material property setting, boundary conditions and tremendous amount of data extract and analysis. The six chosen models could be referred to Chapter 8 about optimization analysis, which gives different strength capacities due to slightly different local scantlings. The comparison indicates it is effective to consider the load bearing with stiffener shear and plate membrane forces as the governing parameters under small/moderate stiffener deflections. In the strength design process, it is recommended to strengthen the stiffener s plastic bending capacity by increasing its shear capacity before the plate membrane tensile stress grows greatly.Design guidelines have been developed for preliminary estimation of strength capacity with regards to plastic analysis. The comparison with NLFEA reflects that the hand calculations may roughly offer an efficient way for capacity design. But overestimation shall be dismissed in certain degree by introducing a safety factor.