Comparison Between Experiments and a Multibody Weakly Nonlinear Potential Flow Approach for Modeling of Marine Operations

This paper presents validation tests for a new numerical tool for the numerical simulation of marine operations. It involves multibody dynamics modeling, wave-structure interactions with large amplitude body motion and cable’s dynamic modeling. Hydrodynamic loads are computed using the WS_CN weakly nonlinear potential flow solver, based on the weak-scatterer hypothesis. Large deformation of the wetted body surfaces can be taken into account. Firstly the ECN’s WS_CN solver capabilities are extended to multibody simulations. A first validation test is performed by comparing numerical results to the experimental data of [1]. Then, a second validation test is proposed. It consists in the ballasting operation of a spar. The experimental set-up is described.