Fluid–Structure Interaction Analysis on Drag Force for Semi-submersible Structures

ne way to investigate the interactions between a fluid and a structure is through fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis. It is applied in many different engineering contexts, such as offshore structure design. The complicated phenomenon known as fluid–structure interaction is what happens when two moving objects engage. The platform itself is the structure and the ocean is the fluid in the case of a semi-submersible platform. The project simulates how waves interact with a semi-submersible platform using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. This work aims to identify the hydrodynamic parameters related to FSI and examine the effects of waves on a semi-submersible platform. The hydrodynamic forces on the platform, such as the wave force, drag force, and lift force, will be computed using the CFD model. This paper describes the use of computer-aided design (CAD) software in the design of a semi-submersible platform. The International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC) platform dimensions provided the design specifications. Each of the two pontoons on the platform is 115 m in length, 15 m in breadth, and 8 m in height. There are eight columns in total, measuring 10 m in diameter for the four outside columns and 8 m for the four center columns. Using computational fluid dynamics, the fluid–structure interaction on the semi-submersible platform was ascertained. The study’s main focus was the drag force that affects the semi-submersible hull. This work employed Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes approach with the two-equation shear stress transport (SST), SST k-ω model as a CFD model to examine the hydrodynamic characteristics of a semi-submersible platform using FSI analysis.