MOORING LINES

1
Flexible mechanical
members that connect and
attach the floating
structure to its anchoring
points.
Position keeping
Chain, wire or rope
Steel, natural fibre,
synthetic fibre
Good for tension
Ineffective for
compression and bending
moment
Tension provided by weight and elasticity of cables
Vertical mooring –TLP
Spread mooring –FPSO, SPAR
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 2

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 ANALYSIS OF MOORING LINES
3
Statics of mooring lines
• study of loads and of their
resulting effects under
steady state conditions
• study allows to predict the
geometry of mooring line
and the steady state
distribution of stresses
along the line
• Analysis of cable systems
assumes perfect cable
flexibility
ie. cables cannot transfer
moments.
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 4 SINGLE POINT MOORED BUOY SYSTEMS
SPM Buoy systems consists of a float, lines, anchor
and possibly some ancillary equipment

Mooring lines have a

number of specific
“weighting factors”
(length, stretch,
weight to drag ratio )
that must be taken
into account when
selecting a method of
solution.

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 5 Mooring lines without Elasticity
Elasticity of the mooring line is not considered

Constant Current

Assumptions:
(a) Cables do not stretch under tension
(ie. elongation can be neglected)
(b) Current has no vertical component
(c) Current magnitude is constant
(ie. does not vary with depth)
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 6
Forces
Gravity forces, fluid drag and line tension
Gravity forces
Buoyant parts of the buoy systems are the floats and
the mooring line.
Non-buoyant parts are steel wire rope mooring lines and
instruments packages
If only small currents are present, mooring line of a
surface buoy hangs almost vertically from the buoy, the
tension at any point in the line being approximately equal
to the immersed weight of the line and equipment below
that point.
Only a small anchor is needed and the amount of water
displaced by the surface float nearly equals the total
immersed weight of the suspended hardware
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 7 Fluid Drag
Considerable drag forces are applied to the
mooring line, which assumes a new equilibrium
configuration
Tension increases and strong anchoring becomes
necessary
The gravity force per unit length of line is given
by
P = W-B (1)
where W is the weight per unit length of the line
and B is the weight of the water displaced by
unit length of the line
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 8 Fluid Drag
Hydrodynamic resistance due to the
flow past a cable element of
diameter d and length ds, when
normal to the flow
% ds
!"# = '()* "+ & "# (2)
&
where CDN is the coefficient of
normal drag and V is the current
speed
d

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 9 Fluid Drag
The resistance on a cable element
making an angle f with the direction
of the flow can be considered to be
made of two parts: i) normal and
ds
ii) tangential to the cable element

f
V

d
Vsinf
f
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 10 Fluid Drag

T+dt
df
V

Fds

Dds
wds
f
T

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 11 Fluid Drag
1
The normal component !"# = '()* "(,* )."# (3)
2
Where VN = V sinf is the velocity component normal to
the cable element and thus D = Rsin2 f (4)

Where R is the resistance

The tangential component Fds is in turn given by
1
/"# = '()0 1"(,0 )."# (5)
2
Where CDT = g CDN is the coefficient of tangential drag
(pd) ds = area “wetted” by the longitudinal flow
VT =V cosf = velocity component tangential to the cable
element11
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 12 Fluid Drag
1
F = rgC DN (pd )V 2 cos 2 f (6)
2
F = p g R cos 2 f (7)
Normal and tangential drag coefficients vary with
Reynolds number and type of cable
For a smooth cable and below the critical Reynolds
number the value of CDN is between 0.9 and 1.2
For rough or stranded cable, this value increases to 1.4
Finally, if strumming induced by vortices is present, a
value as high as 1.8 may be appropriate

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 13

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 Equations of Static Equilibrium
14
Static forces on a cable element of length ds
Under static equilibrium, the vector sum of these forces must
be zero.
Applying this condition to the normal and tangential
component of these forces yields:
In normal direction:
(T + dT )sin fdf - Dds - P cos fds = 0 (8)

sin f @ df , dTdf @ 0
Tdf = (D + P cos f )ds (9)

- T + (T + dT ) cos df - Dds - P sin fds + Fds = 0

dT = (P sin f - F )ds (10)

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 15 Integration of the equilibrium Equations
Case 1. HEAVY AND SHORT CABLES (CATENARY)
Short mooring line made of heavy material (chain, steel wire rope)
with a drag force applied at the buoy end only
Gravity force is predominant and the resistance terms of the cable
equilibrium equation can be neglected, ie. P >> D and F
Tdf = P cos fds (11)

dT = P sin fds (12)

dT
= tan fdf (13)
T
Integrating fromf =0 to f =f yields

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 16 Integration of the equilibrium Equations
T f =f
log = ò tan f df = log sec f (14)
T0 f = 0

or TH = T cos f = T0 (15)
Where T0 is the tension at the origin f =0
horizontal component of the tension TH is constant.
T 0df
Inserting (15) in (12) T0 = = Pds (16)
cos 2 f

Integrating over the same domain gives

Totanf = Ps Tv = T sinf = PS (17)

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 17

y f2
buoy

S2 Tsinf
f1 T = T(f )

S1 f
x
Tcosf
f=0 , T0

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 18

Vertical component of the tension Tv = immersed

weight of the cable length between the origin and the
point P (f)
Tension at this point is given by
T = (T2H + T2V)1/2 (18)

(19)
T= (T20 + (Ps)2)1/2

Coordinates x and y of any point P(f) along the mooring

line are obtained
x = ò dx = ò ds cos f (20)

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 19
T0
cos f = (21)
T
-1 / 2
T0 é æ Ps ö 2 ù
= ê1 + ç ÷ ú (22)
T ê èT0ø ú
ë û

ds
dx =
( )
(23)
2
1 + Ps To
s=s To -1æ Ps ö (24)
Integrating x = ò dx = sinh ç ÷
0 P è To ø
To æ Px ö
s = sinh ç ÷ (25)

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P è To ø
20
dy
= tan f (26)
dx
Ps
tan f = (27)
To
æP ö
dy = ç s ÷dx (28)
è To ø
Px
dy = sinh dx (29)
To
To
Integrating again y = ò dy = (30)
é æ Px ö ù
P êcoshç ÷ - 1ú
ë è To ø û
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 21 CASE II - NEUTRALLY BUOYANT CABLES
For neutrally buoyant cables of relatively short length, gravity
force, P and the tangential drag, F can be neglected.
Tdf =Dds ie Tdf = R sin2fds (1)

dT (2)
=0 T = To = constant
ds
If tension is known at some point in the line, then it is known at all
point. $%!&
!" = (3)
'"()*&

The horizontal and vertical projections of the cable element are

T0 cosf T0 df
dx = ds cosf = df dy = ds sin f = (4)
R sin f
2
R sin f
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 22 CASE II - NEUTRALLY BUOYANT CABLES

The integral from one point P1(f) of these three differential

equations give the length of the cable, and the horizontal and
vertical distance between the two points.

T0
s = {cot f1 - cot f 2 } (5)
R

T0
x = - {cos ecf 2 - cos ecf1 } (6)
R
T0 ì æ f2 ö æ f1 öü
y = ílog e ç tan ÷ - log e ç tan ÷ý (7)
Rî è 2ø è 2 øþ
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 23 CASE III. ALL FORCES CONSIDERED
Cable functions
When the cables are long and gravity forces are important, all
static forces must be considered.
When this is done, the equilibrium differential equations (9) and
(10) can no longer be explicitly integrated and numerical
integration techniques must be used.
Tables of integration results have been obtained and published,
different expression for the tangential component of the
hydrodynamic drag leading to different tables.
1.Constant Tangential Drag : Pode’s Analysis (1951)
In this analysis the tangential component of drag, F, is
considered constant.
The resulting equilibrium differential equations are then

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 24 dT = (P sin f - F )ds (1)

Tdf = (R sin 2 f + P cosf )ds (2)

The ratio of these two equations is

p F
sin f -
dT
= R R df (3)
T p
Sin 2f + cos f
R
Integrating the expression from a point P(f0) to a point P(f)
the result is
p F
f sin f -
T
= exp ò R R
(4)
T0 P
f 0 sin 2 f + cos f
R
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 25 T being the tension at P(f) and T0 at P(f0)
Further more from (2)

Tdf (5)
ds =
R sin 2 f + P cosf

using the value of T obtained in (4)

p F
f sin f -
T0 exp ò R R
P
f0 sin 2 f + cos f (6)
ds = R df
æ 2 P ö
Rç sin f + cos f ÷
è R ø

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 26 which when integrated gives
p F
f sin f -
exp ò R R df
P
f 0 sin 2 f + cos f (7)
Rs f R
= ò
T0 f æ 2 P ö
0 ç sin f + cos f ÷
è R ø

Using dx = ds cosf
dy = ds sin f
the expression for the horizontal distance and the vertical
distance between two points P(f0) and P (f)at limits of the
integration domain are

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 p F
27 f sin f -
exp ò R R df
P
f 0 sin 2 f + cos f
Rx f R
= ò cosfdf (8)
T0 f æ 2 P ö
0 ç sin f + cosf ÷
è R ø
p F
f sin f -
exp ò R R df
f 2 P
sin f + cos f
Ry f 0
R
= ò sin fdf (9)
T0 f æ 2 P ö
0 ç sin f + cos f ÷
è R ø
Relations (4), (5), (6) and (7) are the cable functions t, s, x, h
defined by Pode.
Tabulated integration results are used for computing the cable
shape and cable tension when in static equilibrium. The numerica
value of these definite non dimensional integrals depend on:
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 1. Choice of origin, that is, f0
2.28 2. Extent of the integration domain, that is (f-f0)
3. Values of the parameters P/R and F/R
If the origin is given, and values of P/R and F/R are known, a
particular series of values of the four cable functions is obtained by
successive computation of the four integrals over the intervals
(f-f0) =1, 2, 30,…There can be many such series as the product of
the number of values chosen for P/R by the number of values
chosen for F/R.
Obviously, some limitation must be placed on these numbers.
In Pode’s tables, the values of F/R are confined to F/R
=0.01,0.02,0.03.
The limitations in the number of values of the parameter P/R is
provided by the “critical angle” concept. When the cable hangs
with one free end, its configuration is a straight line at an angle fc
(critical) with the direction of the stream. The angle does not vary
along the cable and
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 29 Relation (2) then becomes
R sin 2 f c + p cosf c = 0 (10)

It is clear that the range of values of fc is

p
0 < fc <
2
and that there is an infinite number of angles and therefore
values of P/R, which satisfy (10) in this range
The selection of P/R values for computing the table is
arbitrary: e larger the number, the heavier and better the
tables.
Pode selected values of fc from 0° to 85° by intervals of 5°
For intermediate values, results are obtained by interpolation.

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 It should be noted that for physical and mathematical obvious
30
reasons, the domain of integration must exclude the critical
angle.
The results of the integration for values of F/R and P/R are
grouped in four tables, with different origins leading to
different tables.
In most practical cases, the point of interest on the cable are
not the points of reference on which the tables are based, and,
therefore, equations relating the tabulated cable parameter at
the points of interest must be formulated.

Tension: Suppose the points of interest are P1 and P2

The tension at P1 and P2 are given by
T1 = t1T0 T2 = t 2T0

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 31 buoy y

P2

P1

x P(f)0

From which
t1 t2 (12)
T1 = T2 and T2 = T1
t2 t1

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 where t1 is the tabulated value of the tension cable function
32
and is the result of integration of expression from the origin
f0 to the point P(f1). for the given F/R and critical angle.
Similarly the tension at P(f2) is given by

T2 = t 2T0 and, therefore, T1 t1

=
T2 t 2

Thus, if the value of the tension is known at one point, the

tension at any other point is readily obtained from values of
t1 and t2 found in the tables.

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 33 Cable length: The length of the cable from the origin to
the point P(f1) is given by
T
S1 = 0 s 1 (13)
R
Where s1 is the tabulated value of the cable function and is the
result of integration of expression from f0 to f1 for the
particular values of fc and F/R
Similarly the length of cable from origin to P2 is given by

S = TR s
2
0
2
(14)

Length of cable from P1to P2 is therefore,

T0
S = S 2 - S1 = (s 2 - s 1 ) (15)
R
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 T1 T2
34 But To = =
t1 t2
therefore,
T1(s 2 -s 1 ) T2(s 2 -s )
S= = 1 (16)
Rt1 Rt 2
Cartesian coordinate: The horizontal and vertical distances
between the points P(f2) and P (f1) are easily found using a
similar approach and are given by
T1(x 2 -x1 ) T2(x 2 -x ) (17)
x= = 1
Rt1 Rt 2

T1(h 2 -h1 ) T2(h 2 -h )

y= = 1
(18)
Rt1 Rt 2
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 35 Mooring Lines With Elasticity
A realistic deep sea mooring lines must consider the elastic
properties of the mooring components.
Steady state solutions taking in account elasticity and current
variation
An approximate solution can, however, be obtained for the case
of surface taut moors by the method of geometric approximation.
In this approach final configuration of the mooring is assumed to
have a simple geometric shape.
Compute the corresponding stretched length and the tension
derived from known elastic response of the mooring line material
An example of this method is the circular arc approximation.

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 Circular approximation
36
This approximation can be used to investigate the down stream
excursion of the buoy and the tension in the mooring line of a
surface taut moor immersed in a current which may vary with
depth.
Consider a surface buoy system with a mooring line made of
wire rope in its upper part (length L1) and of an elastic synthetic
fiber rope in its lower part (length L2)
For the mooring line to be taut, the initial mooring length
(L1+ L2) must be smaller than the water depth at the
implementation site.
During deployment, the fiber rope pulled by the anchor weight,
stretches until the anchor hits the sea floor.
Let l (l >L2) be the length of the fiber rope at that time and let T0
be the initial tension in the fiber rope corresponding to this
elongation.
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 Now the current pushes the anchored buoy downstream.
37
The fiber rope keeps on stretching until the entire mooring
reaches an equilibrium position.
The equilibrium configuration is then assumed to consist of
a circular arc in the fiber rope part of the mooring and of a
straight line in the wire rope apart.
The angle a2 that the mooring line makes with the vertical
at the anchor is given by
-1 D A
a 2 = sin (1)
TA
Where DA is the drag force at the anchor and TA is the
tension in the fiber rope at the anchor.
The drag force DA is the sum of all drag forces on the
buoy system, namely
D A = D B + DW + D F (2)
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 38 where DB = drag on the buoy,
DW = drag on the wire rope
DF = drag on the on the fiber rope
To compute the drag on the wire rope and on the fiber rope,
the mooring line is assumed to be unstretched and normal (or
nearly normal, after all this is a taut moor)to the current.
With these assumptions

1 L1 2
DW = r ò DW W ( y )dy
C d V (3)
2 0

1 L2 2
DF = r ò DF F ( y )dy
C d V
2 L (4)
1
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 Buoy
39 Db
V=V(y)
T=TA+W

Wire
y rope
a1 a1
D1
a2 a1
R TA
Nylon wire a2

Anchor

d DA
a2
01/06/2020 Circular arc approximation
 where
40
CDW ,CDF = drag coefficients
dw, dF = rope diameters for the wire rope and the fiber
rope V(y) = variation of current as a function of depth y
Current variations being small in deeper part of the
mooring and synthetic fiber ropes being almost neutrally
buoyant, the tension TA can be considered constant over the
length of the fiber rope.
At the lower end of the wire rope, the angle a1 between the
vertical and the mooring line is given by
D1
a1 = sin
-1
(5)
TA
where D = D + D is the sum of the drag forces on the
1 B W

buoy and on the wire rope.

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 41 Let R be the radius of the circular arc, and h be the vertical
distance above the sea floor to the center of this arc. Then
h DA
sin a 2 = = (6)
R TA
RD A
from which h= (7)
TA
h = l + R sin a1 (8)

RD1
h=l + (9)
TA
lT A (10)
R=
D A - D1

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 42 radius R and the arc length s are related by

s = R(a 2 - a1 ) (11)

If the elongation of the fiber rope is directly proportional to

the tension, that is, if DL = kDT
where DL is the change in rope length (m), k is the rope
“spring constant “(N/m) and DT = change in rope tension (N),
then the arc length s is given by
T A - T0
s=l + (12)
k
T A = k (s - l ) + T 0 (13)

TB = T A + W (14)

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 43
where W is the immersed weight of all mooring component
(wire rope instruments, etc).
The horizontal distance d between the anchor and the
junction of the two ropes is

d = R(cosa1 - cosa 2 ) (15)

Down stream excursion E of the buoy is

E = R(cosa1 - cosa 2 ) + L1 sin a1 (16)

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