SACSTM Wave Spectral Fatigue Analysis Seminar

Notes:
Topic A. File Structure and Layout

Overview - Seastate information is

specified separately from the
model file. This will
eliminate the need for having
multiple model files
throughout the course of the
analysis.

Topic B. Foundation Super Element

Overview - The PSI program is used to

create a super element to
represent the foundation.
This super element will
replace pile stubs, dummy
piles or springs required in
past analyses.

Step 1. Determine which load cases
are to be used to determine
the foundation stiffness. Add
these load cases to a
Seastate input file if
necessary.
Use either a wave in the range of
common waves in the fatigue
environment or an effective wave height
and period based on center of damage
of scatter diagram. Be sure that these
load cases create axial load in addition
to lateral load in the piles.

Step 2. Specify analysis options in Don’t forget to include the dummy load
the Seastate input file cases added for the foundation.
including load case options.

Step 3. Add foundation super If dummy load cases are used for SE,
element input to the PSI may want to exclude them form pile
input file using the PILSUP capacity and code check.
line or input under the
Foundation options in the
Executive run file Wizard.

Wave Spectral Fatigue Seminar Page - 1

Topic C. Dynamic Characteristics Notes:

Overview - Dynpac is used to create

mode shape and mass files
required for subsequent
dynamic analyses.

Step 1. Specify retained or master PSI ignores fixities designated with ‘2'.
degrees of freedom in the
model if they are not already
done.

Step 2. Create Seastate input file Use FILE ‘J’ option so that only loads in
used for hydrodynamic model are considered. Note: Seastate
modeling only. option is overridden by Executive.

Step 3. Specify load cases to be Use an operational equipment deck

converted to mass in the mass when converting equipment
Seastate input file. operational and/or live loads to weights.

Step 4. Create Dynpac input file. Use ‘SA-Z’ option if user-defined loads
are to be converted to mass.

Step 5. Create runfile. If importing a super element, specify

import option in Analysis options tab or
in model file.

Step 6. Check mode shapes and If water depth is greater than 400 feet or
periods. period is greater than 3 seconds,
dynamic analysis is required.

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Topic D. Wave Steepness
Calibration (Optional)
Overview - The transfer function is
usually developed for a
constant wave steepness
designated in the metocean
data. If wave steepness is
not available, response
functions statistics can be
used to determine the
appropriate steepness.
Step 1. Create Seastate input file
containing the reference
wave stepped through the
structure.
Step 2. Determine base shear range
from reference wave.
Step 3. Create Seastate input for
transfer functions using
various wave steepnesses
and grouping waves near the
natural period of the
structure.
Step 4. Create Wave Response
input file specifying a wave
spectra defined by the
center of damage wave and
referencing the appropriate
wave numbers of the
transfer functions.
Step 6. Execute Wave Response
and use the Response
Function Statistics report to
calculate the most probable
maximum base shear range
for each response function.
Notes:
The appropriate steepness is usually
given. The following describes one
method available to determine the
appropriate steepness if none is
specified.
Use a most probable maximum
reference wave height of 1.86*Hc and
period of Tc/1.81 where Hc and Tc are
the center of damage wave.
Range = maximum base shear -
minimum base shear.
Use the GNTRF feature to define the
waves. Group waves such that periods
corresponding to Tn, Tn±c, Tn±2c and
Tn±3c are used where ‘c’ represents
percent of critical damping. If wave
spreading is used, be sure to use the
same waves for each direction.
Use one WSPEC line for each wave
steepness and reference the waves
representing the transfer function of the
desired steepness. Be sure to use the
center of damage wave for most
probable maximum wave.
Multiply the RMS shear by 3.7 to get the
most probable maximum shear value.
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Topic E. Transfer Function Plots
Overview - Plot global base shear and
over-turning moment
transfer functions for
dynamic analysis. These
plots are used to determine
if a sufficient number of
waves are used and if the
waves are group around
critical frequencies.
Wave response is used to
generate plots for dynamic
analysis while Seastate is
used for static analysis.
Step 1. Create the Seastate input file
used to generate the waves
grouping waves near the
natural period of the
structure. Create wave data
for each direction to be
considered.
Step 2. For dynamic analysis, create
Wave Response input file or
specify transfer function plot
options to create plots only.
Step 3. Create Wave Response
runfile for dynamic or
Seastate runfile for static
fatigue.
Step 4. View plots to be sure that no
peaks or valleys have been
missed and to ensure that
valley does not occur at
natural period.
Step 5. Modify wave definitions in
the Seastate input file as
needed.
Wave Spectral Fatigue Seminar Page - 4
Notes:
The steps outlined should be performed
for each wave direction. If wave
spreading is to be considered, additional
wave directions may be required so that
transfer function data is available for a
minimum of 22.5 degree increments.
Use the GNTRF feature to define the
waves. Group waves such that periods
corresponding to Tn, Tn±c, Tn±2c and
Tn±3c are used where ‘c’ represents
percent of critical damping.
If wave spreading is used, be sure to
use the same waves for each direction.
Specify wave numbers on the TFLCAS
line if an input file is used.
For static fatigue, select the ‘Transfer
Function Plots’ Seastate option in the
Executive (if not specified on the
LDOPT line).
If natural period falls in valley of BS
transfer function, may have to adjust
operational mass assumption to shift
period to a more conservative location.
Natural period may be shifted by 5 -
10% by varying operational mass.
Topic F. Transfer Function Nominal Notes:
Stresses

Overview - For dynamic analysis, Wave The steps outlined should be performed
Response is used to for each wave direction.
generate equivalent static
loads which are solved by
the SACS module. Seastate
is used to generate static
wave forces for static fatigue
analysis.

The SACS module creates a

solution file containing the
nominal stresses required by
the Fatigue program for
creating transfer functions.

If fatigue is to be checked for Must specify the ‘PP’ option on the

the pile below the mudline, a
PSI analysis must be used to
solve the transfer function
nominal stresses.
PSIOPT line or in the Executive
Foundation options when creating the
run file so that a separate solution file
for the pile below the mudline will be
generated.

Step 1. For dynamic analysis, create If using a Wave Response input file,
the Wave Response input specify ‘-1' maximum iterations if no
file used to generate iterations are to be performed. Plot
equivalent static loads at the features can be left in the input file.
desired wave crest positions
or specify Transfer function
options in the Executive run
file wizard.

Step 2. Create Wave Response If appropriate, be sure to include the

runfile using the solve for
equivalent static loads option
for dynamic analysis. For
static analysis, create a
linear static analysis runfile.
effects of the foundation by using either
the Super element import option if a
foundation super element file is to be
used, or including PSI if a pile soil
interaction analysis is to be included.

Wave Spectral Fatigue Seminar Page - 5

Topic G. Fatigue Analysis
Overview - The Fatigue program builds
a separate transfer function
for each point around the
connection for each wave
direction.
Step 1. Create the Fatigue input file
containing S-N curve, SCF
options, joints to be checked
and the fatigue environment
to be used to calculate the
expected life.
Step 2. Create run file for fatigue of
structure.
Step 3. Create run file for fatigue of
pile below the mudline if
applicable.
Step 4. Check fatigue lives. Add
Extract data to Fatigue input
file to extract connections to
be reviewed by Interactive
Fatigue.
Wave Spectral Fatigue Seminar Page - 6
Notes:
Use ‘SEAS’ option so that wave height
and period data can be retrieved directly
from the Seastate input data. No need
to specify number of positions per wave
if a load case was created for each crest
position.
Specify the wave environments for each
direction. Use scatter diagram feature
to define wave environments if possible.
If using wave spreading, may have to
create dummy fatigue cases if no
environment data is available for
intermediate directions.
Be sure to specify solution files (and
Seastate input files if applicable) in the
same order that the wave environments
are defined in the Fatigue input file.
Be sure to specify pile solution files (and
Seastate input files if applicable) in the
same order that the wave environments
are defined in the Fatigue input file.
This requires recreating the runfile if
original input file does not contain
extract daqta.
File Description Directory File Name

Model file

Seastate Input file for foundation linearization

PSI Input file

PSI listing file

Foundation Super Element file

PSI Plot file

Dynpac Input file

Seastate Input for Dynpac

Dynpac Listing file

Dynpac Mode Shape file

Dynpac Mass file

Wave Response Plot Input file

Wave Response EQS Input file

Seastate Input file defining transfer function periods

Transfer Function 000 Degree TF Plot file

Transfer Function Listing file

Transfer Function Solution file for structure

Optional Transfer Function Solution file for piles

Fatigue Input file for structure

Optional Fatigue Input file for piles

Fatigue Listing file

Fatigue Extract file

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