New & Noteworthy

1. General information

  • Version no. 4.6.0

  • Date 2023-06-09

2. Ochi-Hubble wave spectrum

  • The Ochi-Hubble spectrum is included in SIMO.

  • The wave spectrum can now be used for coupled models.

sima460 ochi fig1
Figure 1. Ochi Hubble

3. ESDU wind spectrum

The ESDU parametric wind spectrum as specified in API 2RP MET has been added.

sima460 esdu wind fig1
Figure 2. ESDU wind spectrum
sima460 esdu wind fig2
Figure 3. ESDU wind spectrum input data

4. Wave-current interaction and wave drift damping based on Aranhas formulation

  • Slowly varying wave excitation forces can now take wave-current interaction into account based on Aranhas formulation.

    • Wave drift force coefficients can be modified based on Aranhas formulation.

    • Alternatively, a full difference-frequency QTF can be modified based on an extended Aranhas formulation.

  • Wave drift damping coefficients can also be computed based on Aranhas formulation.

  • Prior to execution of a SIMO condition (or RIFLEX condition with a SIMA body), wave drift force coefficients / wave drift damping coefficients / difference-frequency QTF will be modified based on the present current velocity and direction.

  • In addition, the user can visualize the effect of wave-current interaction effects on the wave drift force coefficients / wave drift damping coefficients in a wave-current correction preview, as shown below.

sima460 wave current
Figure 4. Wave-current interaction
sima460 wave drift damping
Figure 5. Wave drift damping

5. Dynamic calculation input

  • Input data linked to support vessel and body

    • Previously only one wind turbine could have an external control system, any additional turbines had

sima460 inputdata fig1
Figure 6. Input data to support vessel and body

6. Decompose the total line force into global system

  • Line forces is available in global system

  • Requires storage of the transformation matrices

sima460 decom linef fig1
Figure 7. Decompose total line force

7. User defined elements

See SIMA documentation

  • User defined elements may now be included in a model

    • Stiffness, damping and loads may be included.

  • Routines with methods for initialization, load step and finish are linked into a DLL by the user. On Linux, the code for the elements is compiled to a .so file.

  • Currently, only single node elements are available.

    • The element is primarily intended for modelling seafloor contact but may be used for other purposes

8. Structural data available as results

  • Structural data are available as results for each end of the elements

    • Global coordinates

    • Arc length, external and hydrodynamic diameter

    • Drag coefficients

    • Current velocity in global directions

sima460 struct fig1
Figure 8. Check off for structural data storage
sima460 struct fig2
Figure 9. Structural data as result

9. New cross section for coupling between axial strain and torsional strain

  • A separate cross-section has been added for axial-torsion coupling effects.

  • The axisymmetric cross-section requires hyperelastic axial tension/elongation and torsion moment/rotation relations in addition to hysteresis effects in the bending/curvature relation.

sima460 crs8 fig1
Figure 10. New cross section
sima460 crs8 fig2
Figure 11. Coupling between axial strain and torsional strain

10. Wave kinematics key-file

  • The wave kinematics results are shown are shown for each node (line → segment → node )

  • The key_<>_wavkin.txt file now contains all information needed to generate new kinematics for use in RIFLEX

sima460 hydro fig1
Figure 12. Wave kinematics
'
'   R I F L E X  -  KEY FILE
'   ------------------------
'
'
'   This key-file describes the contents of the BINARY file
'   sima_wavkin.bin.
'   The file contains time series of pre-generated wave kinematics
'   stored as single precision (32-bit = 4 bytes) real numbers.
'
'   The pre-generated wave kinematics for the selected FEM nodes are
'   stored in columns on the file:
'
'   Col.    Supernode  OR                 Global     -- Static global coordinates --
'   nr. Type  Line     Segment  Node     FEM node    X           Y           Z        Unit      Description
'   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      0  TYPE  IDEN    SEGMENT  NODE     FEM-NODE  XG-STATIC   YG-STATIC   ZG-STATIC  UNIT      DESCRIPTION
      1   -     -           -     -         -        -           -           -        -         FORTRAN specific data (please ignore)
      2   -     -           -     -         -        -           -           -        s         Time
      3  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     m         Wave elevation
      4  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     m/s       Fluid velocity, global X-direction
      5  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     m/s       Fluid velocity, global Y-direction
      6  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     m/s       Fluid velocity, global Z-direction
      7  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     m/s^2     Fluid acceleration, global X-direction
      8  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     m/s^2     Fluid acceleration, global Y-direction
      9  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     m/s^2     Fluid acceleration, global Z-direction
     10  SNOD  anchor       -     -         1     535.360       0.000    -300.000     kN/m^2    Fluid dynamic pressure

11. Improved search functionality

  • Added search tips

sima460 searchtips fig1
Figure 13. Search tips

  • Limit the search to a part of the documentation:

sima460 searchtips fig2
Figure 14. Limit search to a part of the documentation

12. Hydrodynamic data can be visualized

  • Hydrodynamic data is now visible

    • Open the 3D view of the model

    • Select the hydrodynamic data

sima460 3Dview hydro fig1
Figure 15. Hydrodynamic data

13. Display of nodal components

  • Size of nodal body is set by using the mass or the volume

sima460 nodalcomp fig1
Figure 16. Display of nodal components

14. Distance vector

  • Distance Line to Line operation in post processor is augmented with optional output of distance vector

sima460 distvec fig1
Figure 17. Line to Line distance vector

15. Improved documentation of the SYROPE fibre rope models

sima460 fibre fig1
Figure 18. Fibre rope model

16. Mass and inertia summary

  • Calculate total mass, centre of mass and inertia tensor during static analysis, for:

    • Selected lines

    • In initial, or final (static) deformed configuration

    • In specified output reference system

sima460 mass fig1
Figure 19. Mass and inertia summary

17. Bibliography

See Bibliography

  • A separate section with bibliography is added to the user documentation

    • Applications and benchmarking of the developed software tools

    • References with keywords

18. Metocean task

See Met ocean and How to make scatter data

  • Added documentation on how to create scatter diagram

    • Set up the type of scatter data

    • Specify the scatter data calculation

    • Make a and run the condition

19. SIMA will now store the table setup when customizing them (SIMA-9918)

  • The table setup will be shared among all editors of the same type.

  • Table setup can be rest to default

sima460 cust fig1
Figure 20. Select customize table
sima460 cust fig2
Figure 21. Customize table or reset to default settings

20. Improved inspection for failed workflows

  • When workflows fail during run it is now possible to go directly to the failed workflow, even if it is many layers down

sima460 debug fig1
Figure 22. Debug failed work flow

21. SIMO

Description JIRA reference

Anchor position in global coordinates for Catenary Lines are now available as results from a static calculation.

SRV-2054

It is now possible to calculate wave drift damping from a full difference frequency QTF or Wave Drift Force coefficients using Aranha’s formula.

SIMA-10001

It is now possible to correct wave drift coefficients (low-frequency excitation force) to account for wave-current interaction using Aranha’s formula. Similarly, a full difference-frequency QTF can be corrected by using an extended Aranha’s formula.

Option to plot sum-frequency QTFs as curves with constant sum-frequency has been added

SIMA-10134

The ESDU parametric wind spectrum as specified in API 2RP MET has been added.

SRV-2010

Ochi-Hubble wave spectrum is included in SIMO. Ochi-Hubble wave spectrum can now be used for coupled models.

SRV-1364

22. Riflex

Description

JIRA reference

Cross sections for partially submerged elements are replaced by load models for partially submerged elements: "Morison partly submerged cross section"
FishNet cross section is replaced by axisymmetric CrossSection with Net formulation

SIMA-10019
SRV-1968

A separate cross-section has been added for axial-torsion coupling effects.

SRV-1988

Eigenvalue solver has been replaced by a more numerically robust code. User input to the eigenvalue analysis has been simplified.

SRV-1331

Dynamic SIMO/RIFLEX simulations can now be re-run without re-running static analysis.

SIMA-10080

The key_<>_wavkin.txt file now contains all information needed to generate new kinematics for use in RIFLEX.

SRV-2041

Structural data can now be exported to an Ascii file for all lines, segments, elements and elements ends.

SRV-2026

User defined elements (stiffness, damping and loads) may now be included in a model.

SRV-1961

Export of tension and curvature time series from VIVANA fatigue calculations. This can be used to calculate the stresses for umbilical & flexibles.

SIMA-9114

Document the LAYFLEX option and the print of roller contact forces to file.

SRV-1991

Improved visualization of Nodal body in 3D view

SIMA-9840

Geometric stiffness matrix has been changed for elements where the bending moment/curvature relationship includes hysteresis effects. This improves the numerical stability and gives a significant improvement in convergence during static analysis.

SRV-2053

Added possibility to decompose the total line force into global system.

SIMA-10169

Fixed display of nodal components in 3D to ensure they are visualized even without mass or volume.

SIMA-10119

It is now possible to calculate the total mass, centre of mass, and inertia tensor of selected lines.

SRV-2033

23. SIMA

Description JIRA reference

Hydrodynamic data is now visible in the 3D view if a plot is open at the same time.

SIMA-10086

Improved inspection for failed workflows. It is now possible to inspect the failing workflow directly, even if it is many levels down in the workflow hierarchy.

SIMA-10107

New wizard to help create and test batch commands to run with SIMA Runtime Engine

SIMA-10142

Presentation unit is now added to numerical inputs in workflow

SIMA-7694

SIMA will now store the table setup when customizing them. The table setup will be shared among all editors of the same type.

SIMA-9918

Filter in 3D view has been changed from "type filtering" to "specific object filtering". The user can select individual geometries and hide/unhide these.

SIMA-10082

Metocean data can now be created using SIMApy.

SIMA-10098

Distance Line to Line operation in post processor is augmented with optional output of distance vector.

SIMA-10148

Improved 3D visualization when using small storage steps or start time different from 0.0

SRV-2015

The Marmo package in SIMApy has been renamed and moved to the simapy.sima.signals package. The sima root package has also been moved into the simapy package.

SIMA-10143

A separate section with bibliography is added to the user documentation.

SIMA-10097

Added documentation on how to create scatter diagram in Metocean task.

SIMA-7899

Added functionality to only search within current active module in documentation.

SIMA-10096

Improved documentation of the SYROPE fiber rope models