This paper proposes an effective inertia coefficient (EIC) in the Morison equation for better wave-force calculations. The OC4 semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) platform was considered to test the feasibility. Large diffraction at large Keulegan– Carpenter (KC) numbers and the interaction between columns can result in errors in estimating the wave force using the Morison equation with a theoretical inertia coefficient, which can be corrected by the EIC as a function of the wave period and direction. The horizontal and vertical wave forces were calculated using the Morison equation and potential theory at each column, wave period, and wave direction. The EICs of each column were then obtained, resulting in a minimal difference between the Morison inertia force and the wave excitation force by the potential theory. The EICs, wave forces, phase angles, and dynamic motions were compared to confirm the feasibility of an EIC concept under regular and random waves.
A case study is conducted for a submerged floating tunnel module (SFTM) in wet tow conditions. Inspired by the successful wet tow operations of spar platforms, a wet tow scenario is examined where a tunnel module, floating horizontally with a half-diameter draft, is towed by tugboats using towlines. To evaluate the static stability of the SFTM during wet tow, numerical static offset tests are performed at varying tow speeds to determine the equivalent system stiffness. These static offset tests consider surge, sway, roll, and yaw motions. Statistical analyses are subsequently performed based on the encounter-frequency approximation with varying equivalent stiffnesses. The most probable extreme motion analysis for 3 h under sea state 4 ( and ) shows that the beam sea condition causes the largest heave (0.6 m), and the stern sea (30 deg.) leads to the largest yaw response (0.85 deg.), which is likely to cause an instantaneous decrease in towing stability.