Configuration Design and Optimization of TLP Tendon Connectors

doi:10.3901/JME.2019.18.196

Abstract

Abstract: Tension leg platform(TLP) is connected to the seabed by tendons. Thus the movement of TLP in the heave direction is constrained and the horizontal direction movement is limited within a certain range. Then great dynamic tension loads will be supported by the tendons and the connectors. Therefore, the tendon connection becomes one of the key technologies in the TLP R&D process. For lack of relevant studies on the tendon connector, the structural configuration of the tendon connector is studied. The mechanical model of the locking mechanism of the tendon top connector(TTC) is established. The response surface methodology is used to optimize the four parameters of the angle of the tooth, the thickness of the root, the thickness of the tooth tip and the angle of the bottom of the slip nut of the top connector locking structure to reduce the maximum equivalent stress, extend the fatigue life of the connection structure and improve the connection stability. The tendon bottom connector prototype(TBC) is developed. The onshore and pool installation test of the tendon is proposed. The rationality of the TBC structure configuration is verified by the test. The results show that the optimized performance of TTC is significantly improved. The maximum equivalent stress was reduced by 26.5%, while the contact reaction increased by 37.4%. The TBC configuration is reasonable and the connection requirements of tendons can be completed.

Key words: tension leg platform, tendon, tendon top connector, tendon bottom connector, multi-objective optimization

CLC Number:

TE937

WANG Liquan, LI Songyu, GONG Haixia, LIU Hanghang, ZHANG Luyao. Configuration Design and Optimization of TLP Tendon Connectors[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2019, 55(18): 196-205.

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