Experimental Study on the Slamming Loads on Inclination Bulwark of a Cylindrical FPSO

Slamming loads on the inclined bulwark of a cylindrical floating production storage and offloading (CFPSO) unit are studied experimentally with respect to sea states and distances from mean sea level. From model test result, the maximum load is obtained at the lower part, and the load decreases with the height increasing. Lasting period of load is short at the lower and upper positions but it is a little longer at the medium position due to wave surface properties. Empirical mode decomposition method is an alternative to remove sensor resonance and dynamic amplification effect in the test result postprocessing in addition to the conventional statistical analysis. Moreover, from pure wave test cases, larger slamming loads are obtained coincidently with the larger vertical motions (heave and roll/pitch). However, in coupled wave-current cases, smaller slamming loads are observed even though the vertical motions are amplified. Findings in the paper provide basic understandings on slamming loads distribution on a CFPSO in extreme sea state and propose an alternative method in the slamming loads design at the same time.