Dynamic response of offshore jacket

structures under
random loads
Ahmed A. Elshafey a, Mahmoud R. Haddara b,*, H. Marzouk c
Faculty of Engineering, Minufiya University, Shebin Elkom, Egypt
b Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. Johns, NL, Canada A1B 3X5
c Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

The dynamic response of a scale model of a jacket offshore structure

is investigated both theoretically and experimentally.

The experiments were conducted both in air and in water.

The model was subjected to random wave loads. Froudes law of

modelling was used to obtain the dimensions of the scale model
based on the dimensions of an existing structure

The effects of varying the structures weight, and the characteristics

of the wave loading were investigated. The structures weight was
changed by adding weights to the structures deck. A finite element
model was designed to determine the dynamic response of the
model

The reaction force at the foundation was estimated from strain

measurements and compared with the finite element calculations.
Fair agreement was obtained.

Objective is to develop a method for structural damage detection

using the free vibration response of the structure. The free vibration
response will be obtained from the stationary random response of

Continued.

The present paper reports the results of an

experimental program that was carried out at
Memorial University of Newfoundland to investigate
the dynamic response of a scale model of a fixed
offshore structure.

Effects of varying the wave spectrum parameters and

the weight of the structure have also been studied.
Strain gages were used to estimate the reaction of
the foundation. Experimental results were compared
with the results obtained from a finite element model

Introduction
Ou J, Long X, Li QS, Xiao YQ. Vibration control of steel
jacket offshore structures with damping isolation
systems. Engineering Structures 2007;29:152538.

Developed a damping isolation system for the control of the vibration of a

steel jacket offshore platform structure. A 1/10 model of the structure was
fitted with the damping isolation system and tested on a shaking table.

Ice and earthquake loads were simulated. Numerical simulations were

conducted and the numerical and experimental results were compared.

Numerical simulations for the undamped and the damped structure were
obtained using a single degree and two degrees of freedom system,
respectively. Simulations and experimental results were in good agreement.

While the damper design was discussed in detail, few details were given
about the model of the jacket structure.

The study, reported above, is one of a few papers in the literature that
report experimental investigations of the dynamic response of scale models
of fixed offshore structures

Experimental setup

The prototype structure is a four-legged jacket with a combination

of diagonal and k-bracings.

The model was scaled using dimensional analysis according to

Froudes law. The model was fabricated from Acrylonitrile
Butadiene Styrene (ABS) pipes and its deck is made of Acrylic
sheets.

The main legs, the bracings, and the deck are constructed using
pipes with external diameter of 1in, 7/16in, 1/2in , and 5/8in ,
respectively. All pipes have the same thickness of 1/16in . The
deck was made of 1/2in Acrylic sheets.

The total height of the model including the deck is 2.663 m. The
four legs at the bottom form a rectangle, 1.000 m by 0.636 m. The
structure consisted of five levels separated by horizontal bracings.

The main legs were slanted from the base until a height of 1.953
m to form a rectangle with dimensions of 0.667 m by 0.300 m. The
main legs were kept vertical from a height of 1.953 m to the top of
the deck.

Continued..

Four accelerometers and eight strain gages were used to

measure the motion and the strains of various parts of the
structure.

Two accelerometers were mounted on deck and the other two

were mounted on one of the main legs. The strain gages were
mounted on the main legs just above the points of support.