Response of a SPAR Offshore Platform to Wave Action- An Experimental Study

The preliminary experimental results on the scale model of a SPAR offshore
platform are presented and analysed. The structure, a classic SPAR, has been
designed as a hypothetical model. The study targets to fill a vacuum in the design of
such important structures by conducting physical modelling. Changing the wave
height, wave period, and ballast conditions, a series of laboratory tests was achieved
at 20 mx 10 mx 1.2 m wave basin of the Coastal Engineering Laboratory, UTP, under
regular waves while the SPAR is moored by 16 mooring lines connected to the basin
floor. The dynamic response of the SPAR was monitored by photographic methods
and the heave, surge and pitch of the structure were plotted vs. time. The analysis of
the maximum responses showed the significance of the wave period and ballast
condition. The scale modelling data show a satisfactory similarity with the prototype.