Summary
Scope of Work:
The objective is similar to the previous project (Johnson, 1991) in that the purpose was to develop a software package specifically conceived for educational or research purposes with emphasis on: 1) graphical I/O interfaces, 2) automatic data generation, and 3) graphical display of computed results. The software needed to be highly interactive on all design parameters and allow the student/researcher to investigate the effects in key parameters and alternative design solutions. The goal was not geared towards self-paced instruction but instead focused on enabling the student to gain insight into the behavior of a physical system.
Course compression often precludes or discourages used of valuable lecture time to explain input guides, options, etc.; therefore, an overriding consideration was to make the program’s use as intuitive and natural as possible. Once the student understands the underlying principles and theories presented in the classroom, he/she could then investigate various design parameters affecting the problem. Ideally, one strives for a situation where this could be accomplished with little or no sacrifice in lecture time.
Sequence of Program Development:In this project, both a DECstation 3100 workstation and IBM RISC 6000 Model 530 workstation were used to develop the TLP program, OTRC-TLP2D93. The procedural programming language, “C” was used along with X Windows for the graphics. Motif, a defacto industry standard, was used for the interface design. Since these three software components are supported by all major vendors, OTRC-TLP2D93 can easily be adapted to any work station that supports X Windows and Motif. The workstation environment was chosen because of the larger screen and fast computation which is needed for real time graphical simulation of the TLP response. Preliminary versions are already operational on the Center’s workstation facilities on both campuses. The final product of this research OTRC-TLP-3D93, is under development and is scheduled for completion this summer. The three-dimensional modeling for OTRC-TLP-3D93 will be able to account for variable wave and current directions and their three-dimensional effects on surge, heave, pitch, sway, roll and yaw.
Related Publications:
Johnson, C.P. “A Computer Aided Design Approach for Deep Water Tension Leg Platforms,” Offshore and Arctic Operations Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana,
January 23-26, 1994.
