Abstract
Considering a rigorously fluid-structure interaction, a method for an earthquake response analysis of a floating offshore structure subjected to vertical ground motion from a seaquake is developed. Mass, damping, stiffness, and hydrostatic stiffness matrices of the floating offshore structure are obtained from a finite-element model. The sea water is assumed to be a compressible, nonviscous, ideal fluid. Hydrodynamic pressure, which is applied to the structure, from the sea water is assessed using its finite elements and transmitting boundary. Considering the fluid-structure interaction, added mass and force from the hydrodynamic pressure is obtained, which will be combined with the numerical model for the structure. Hydrodynamic pressure in a free field subjected to vertical ground motion and due to harmonic vibration of a floating massless rigid circular plate are calculated and compared with analytical solutions for verification. Using the developed method, the earthquake responses of a floating offshore structure subjected to a vertical ground motion from the seaquake is obtained. It is concluded that the earthquake responses of a floating offshore structure to vertical ground motion is severely influenced by the compressibility of sea water.
