Example of Application of Morrison Equation

5. Horizontal velocity component of a wave propagating in x-direction in water of constant depth

d is described by the equation

a g k cosh(k (z + d))
vx = cos(k x − ω t) ,
ω cosh(k d)

wherepa is wave amplitude, g is gravity acceleration, k = 2 π/λ is wave number, λ is wave length,
ω = k g tanh(k d) is frequency of the wave, z = 0 and z = −d represent water surface and
bottom respectively. A vertical cylindrical oil rig column of 10 m in diameter is placed in 50 m
deep water. Calculate the maximal horizontal force and the moment about the bottom mounting
applied to the column by a 200 m long wave of 3 m amplitude. The values of drag coefficient
and inertial coefficient are CD = 1 and CM = 2. Discuss the applicability of your solution.

z=0 x

v (z, t)
D
d

111111111111111111111111111111
000000000000000000000000000000
z=−d
000000000000000000000000000000
111111111111111111111111111111
000000000000000000000000000000
111111111111111111111111111111
Fig. 5.1

Solution:
For a given position (x = 0) the horizontal velocity in the wave can be written as the product of a
function of t, a function of z and a constant

v = U cosh( k (z + d) ) cos(ω t) , (1)

where the constant U represents the maximal velocity at the bottom (z = −d) and can be calculated
using the problem data
agk
U= .
ω cosh(k d)
Force dF on a small column element of thickness dz (Fig. 5.2) can be calculated by using Morrison’s
equation (What assumptions justify its application? )

1 π D2
dF = CD ρ D v |v| dz + CM ρ v̇ dz . (2)
2 4
Using (1) each term (2) can be represented as the product of a function of time, a function of z and
a constant
dF = KD cos(ω t) | cos(ω t)| cosh2 ( k (z + d) ) dz
− KI sin(ω t) cosh( k (z + d) ) dz ,
where the constants
1 π D2
KD = CD ρ D U 2 ; KI = CM ρ U
2 4

1
 z=0

v (z, t) D
d
d+z
∆z
111111111111111111111111111111
000000000000000000000000000000
z=−d
000000000000000000000000000000
111111111111111111111111111111
000000000000000000000000000000
111111111111111111111111111111
Fig. 5.2

0.8 cos( t ) | cos( t ) |

0.6

0.4
−sin( t )
0.2
π/2
0
−π / 2
−0.2

−0.4

−0.6

−0.8

−1
−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 t

Fig. 5.3

can be calculated using the problem data. The corresponding overturning moment about the base can
be obtained by multiplying dF by the distance to the base z + d

dM = KD cos(ω t) | cos(ω t)| cosh2 ( k (z + d) ) (z + d) dz

− KI sin(ω t) cosh( k (z + d) ) (z + d) dz ,

To calculate the total force and moment we have to integrate dF and dM from the bottom z = −d
to the surface z = 0. This implies taking the following integrals

Z0 Z0
2
I1 = cosh ( k (z + d) ) dz; I2 = cosh( k (z + d) ) dz ;
−d −d

Z0 Z0
2
I3 = cosh ( k (z + d) ) (z + d) dz; I4 = cosh( k (z + d) ) (z + d) dz .
−d −d

The values of the integrals for the particular values of d and k can be estimated numerically, for
example using Excel (e.g. see 1st year Cylinder lab), or by using analytical methods and integral
tables (refer to your math course). The following formulas are valid for the integrals I1 –I4

2 k d + sinh(2 k d) sinh(k d)
I1 = ; I2 = ;
4k k
1 + 2 (k d)2 − cosh(2 k d) + 2 k d sinh(2 k d) 1 − cosh k d + k d sinh(k d)
I3 = 2
; I4 = ,
8k k2
and their values can be calculated using the problem data.

2
Now we have the force and overturning moment as functions of time

F (t) = KD I1 cos(ω t) | cos(ω t)| − KI I2 sin(ω t) ;

M (t) = KD I3 cos(ω t) | cos(ω t)| − KI I4 sin(ω t)

and our task is to find their maximal values. From Fig. 5.3 it is clear that the maximum occurs when
both terms in expressions for F (t) and M (t) are positive, that is when −π/2 < ω t < 0. It is convenient
to apply a phase shift ω t → ω t + π/2 and consider the interval 0 < ω t < π/2. We can write then

F (t) = KD I1 sin2 (ω t) + KI I2 cos(ω t) ;

(3)
M (t) = KD I3 sin2 (ω t) + KI I4 cos(ω t)

and maxima occur when time derivatives are 0.

Force:

Ḟ = 2 ω KD I1 sin(ω t) cos(ω t) − ω KI I2 sin(ω t) = ω sin(ω t) (2 KD I1 cos(ω t) − KI I2 ) = 0 ,

which happens when either

 
KI I2
ωt = 0 or ω t = arccos .
2 KD I1

To calculate the value of the force maximum substitute these values of ω t to the first equation of
(3) and select the maximal value. Note that when KI I2 > 2 KD I1 arccos does not exist. The force
maximum then occurs at t = 0 and equals to the inertial force component KI I2 .
Similarly, the moment maximum occurs when
 
KI I4
ωt = 0 or ω t = arccos .
2 KD I3