Experimental Investigation and Prediction Model of the Loads Exerted by Oblique Internal Solitary Waves on FPSO

By using a 30-meter-long wave flume equipped with a double-plate wave maker, a series of depression ISWs were generated in a density stratified two-layer fluid and the forces exerted by oblique internal solitary waves (ISWs) on fixed FPSO model had been measured. According to the laboratory experiments, a numerical flume taken the applicability of KdV, eKdV and MCC ISWs theories in consideration was adopted to study the force components. Based on the experimental data and the force composition, the simplified prediction model was established. It was shown that the horizontal and transversal loads consisted of two parts: the Froude—Krylov force that could be calculated by integrating the dynamic pressure induced by ISW along the FPSO wetted surface, as well as the viscous force that could be obtained by multiplying the friction coefficient Cfx (Cfy), correction factor Kx (Ky) and the integration of particle tangential velocity along the FPSO wetted surface. The vertical load was mainly the vertical Froude—Krylov force. Based on the experimental results, a conclusion can be drawn that the friction coefficient Cf and correction factor K were regressed as a relationship of Reynolds number Re, Keulegan—Carpenter number KC, upper layer depth h1/h and ISW accident angle α. Moreover, the horizontal friction coefficient Cfx yielded the logarithmic function with Re, and transversal friction coefficient Cfy obeyed the exponent function with Re, while the correction factors Kx and Ky followed power function with KC. The force prediction was also performed based on the regression formulae and pressure integral. The predicted results agreed well with the experimental results. The maximum forces increase linearly with the ISWs amplitude. Besides, the upper layer thickness had an obvious influence on the extreme value of the horizontal and transversal forces.