Tether analysis and stability investigation of space rocket launch offshore compliant platform in regular seas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2025.275563Keywords:
Floating structure, Triceratops, Mathieu stability, offshore structure, stability analysis, Floating structure; Triceratops; Mathieu stability; Offshore structure; Stability analysisAbstract
This study investigates the stability of a multi-utility offshore platform designed for rocket launches, focusing on tether dynamics and platform behavior under operational and failure scenarios. The platform, modeled in ANSYS AQWA, features buoyant legs and a topside connected by ball-and-socket joints, allowing translational motion while maintaining independent rotations. The extended topside introduces pitch moments requiring stability checks. Free-decay tests reveal rigid heave and pitch motions (~3 s) and flexible surge motions (~150 s). Dynamic tether analysis under various sea states highlights that simultaneous tether failures critically affect platform stability, causing significant shifts in heave and pitch.
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Cite this article:
Chandrasekaran, S., Unnikrishnan, A., Panindre, A. (2025). Tether analysis and stability investigation of space rocket launch offshore compliant platform in regular seas. Maritime Technology and Research, 7(3), 275563. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2025.275563
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Highlights
- Demonstrated topside stability in heave and pitch under multiple tether failure scenarios, highlighting the platform's robustness.
- Applied Mathieu's stability analysis and charts to assess tether stability under dynamic conditions, offering a novel approach to offshore rocket platform stability.
- Analyzed the impact of tether failure on tension distribution, revealing critical tension spikes affecting buoyant legs and platform stability.
- Utilized phase plot analysis to reveal the recentering ability of the platform and confirm its stability through elliptical shapes, offering a new method for visualizing the dynamic response of offshore launch platforms.
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