Offshore structures

Development of a baseline design protocol for cathodic protection retrofits of offshore structures is becoming an increasingly important topic in light of the large number of structures operating beyond their original cp system design life. One of the critical steps in this development is determination of the total anode mass which is required to continue sufficient cathodic protection for which structure current demand must be established. Three current demand determination methods were investigated including the Gaussian ammeter, the Potential method, which utilizes the driving potential and anode resistance in its current calculation, and the IR Drop method. To this end, three anodes were deployed at the Naval Research Laboratory, Key West, Fl., and current output determinations were made upon these. Each of the three current measurement methods was evaluated on the basis of accuracy, reliability and feasibility in field use.

Experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of localized cathodic polarization for reducing corrosion of simulated prestressed concrete piles containing admixed calcium chloride and exposed to a simulated sea water tidal cycle. The specimens contained both continuous and segmented steel tendons, the purpose of the latter being to facilitate measurement of cathodic protection current. Conductive rubber in an impressed current system was used as the anode material. The specimens were initially freely corroded and then cathodically polarized at a constant current ranging from 0.5 to 1 mA/m$\sp2$ which corresponded to potentials (current-on) which ranged from $-$0.500 to $-$1.100 V(sce) in the anode region. The magnitude of impressed current and its distribution along the embedded steel was monitored as a function of exposure time, level of polarization and water levels. Current-on and instant-off potential distribution for both the continuous and segmented tendons were also measured. The level of cathodic polarization was assessed as a function of position along the specimens by the depolarization method. The results were evaluated within the context of marine bridge substructure cathodic protection technology.

This thesis deals with the static analysis of a three dimensional underwater acoustic tower exclusively designed and fabricated by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, Florida. A commercial finite element package COSMOS/M was used for the finite element analysis. The structural modeling as well as processing of the results was performed using GEOSTAR Ver. 1.65 interactive graphics package. The analysis was concentrated on the main instrument pipe carrying the required instruments for data acquisition. Various environmental loading induced by ocean currents, hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy and self weight of the tower have been considered in the analysis. The construction aspects of the tower as well as the finite element analysis of tower substructures are also discussed. The deflection of the tower due to the imposed loading is studied and deflection profiles are drawn.

Study of selected candidate steels for offshore application was undertaken to observe the effects of cathodic protection and cyclic frequency on corrosion fatigue life. Keyhole Compact Tension Fatigue experiments under constant amplitude sinusoidal loading and stress ratio of 0.5 were performed on 25.4 mm thick specimens in natural sea water and also in air upon three different steels (Y.S. 500-563 MPa). These steels represented different strengthening techniques, namely precipitation hardening, direct quenching--a thermomechanical control process (TMCP), and controlled rolling. Cathodic polarization was in the range between freely corroding and -1.10 Volts (SCE). The tests were performed at a frequency of 0.3 and 1.0 Hz. The results are presented in the S-N and potential versus cycles to initiation format. No effect of frequency (1.0-0.3 Hz) was observed at cathodic protection of -1.10 V (SCE). The steels showed an increase in fatigue life to an optimum potential, and excessive potentials were detrimental. The fatigue life in dry air was greater than in laboratory air (~50% RH).

Laboratory experiments have been performed to characterize the effects of initial current density and selected variables (initial current density, temperature and surface treatment) upon the cathodic polarization behavior of API 2H Grade 42 steel in natural sea water. The procedure involved galvanic coupling of a cylindrical steel specimen to a larger diameter aluminum sacrificial anode ring through an external resistor, which offset the otherwise impractically small anode/cathode surface area ratio and permitted the desired initial current density to be realized. In the initial polarization stage the change in potential versus current density data with time was found to be linear with a slope equal to the product of the total circuit resistance and cathode surface area and with the vertical intercept corresponding to the anode open circuit potential. Lower temperature or increased flow resulted in reduced polarization and a relatively high current density, but data for experiments employing a particular resistance conformed to straight lines with the same slope R[ext] x A[c] (external resistance times cathode surface area). Some experiments exhibited concave behavior at longer test duration. An explanation for the linear interdependence of potential and current density and the following concave behavior is presented. The laboratory experiments were compared with offshore structure survey results. It is projected that the potential-current density behavior of galvanic cathodic protection (CP) systems of different geometries can be quantitatively interrelated through this slope parameter. Implications of the data are discussed within the context of cathodic protection design, rapid polarization and system performance for offshore structures.

In response to Florida's growing energy needs and drive to develop renewable power, Florida Atlantic Universitys Center for Ocean Energy Technology (COET) plans to moor a 20 kW test turbine in the Florida Current. No permanent mooring systems for deepwater hydrokinetic turbines have been constructed and deployed, therefore little if anything is known about the performance of these moorings. To investigate this proposed mooring system, a numeric model is developed and then used to predict the static and dynamic behavior of the mooring system and attachments. The model has been created in OrcaFlex and includes two surface buoys and an operating turbine. Anchor chain at the end of the mooring line develops a catenary, providing compliance. Wind, wave, and current models are used to represent the environmental conditions the system is expected to experience and model the dynamic effects on the system. The model is then used to analyze various components of the system. The results identify that a mooring attachment point 1.25 m forward of the center of gravity on the mooring buoy is ideal, and that the OCDP and turbine tether lengths should be no shorter than 25 and 44 m, respectively. Analysis performed for the full system identify that the addition of the floats decreases the tension at the MTB attachment location by 26.5 to 29.5% for minimum current, and 0.10 to 0.31% for maximum current conditions.

A 6-Degree Of Freedom (DOF) numeric model and computer simulation along with the 1/10th scale physical model of the Rapidly Deployable Stable Platform (RDSP) are being developed at Florida Atlantic University in response to military needs for ocean platforms with improved sea keeping characteristics. The RDSP is a self deployable spar platform with two distinct modes of operation enabling long distance transit and superior seakeeping. The focus of this research is the development of a Dynamic Position (DP) and motion mitigation system for the RDSP. This will be accomplished though the validation of the mathematical simulation, development of a novel propulsion system, and implementation of a PID controller. The result of this research is an assessment of the response characteristics of the RDSP that quantifies the performance of the propulsion system coupled with active control providing a solid basis for further controller development and operational testing.