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Client
Confidential
Overview
We have developed our own internal foundation scaling tool that allows us to modify a reference foundation, make changes to the key geometric parameters, and scale up or down depending on the size of foundation required.
Case study
Foundation scaling
Our scaling tool allows us to modify a reference foundation, make changes to the key geometric parameters, and scale up or down depending on the size of foundation required.
Our approach to scaling is as follows:
- Simplify geometry of the floater such that it is defined by a set of core parameters;
- Run an optimisation on parameter set and generate new meshes for each;
- Estimate the mass of the scaled foundation;
- Run stability checks with the new foundations through OrcaWave and OrcaFlex to obtain performance results;
Choose the ‘optimum’ foundation with the lowest mass that is constrained based on allowable static pitch.
The key geometric parameters are scaled to the desired value and then the connecting pontoons are scaled such that the desired column height is tapered to accommodate for the difference in desired central and outer column diameters. Once the scaling is complete a new mesh is created, key inertias and masses estimated and then stability checks conducted in Orcawave before deployment in Orcaflex.