MARIN, world leader in hydrodynamic software

Lab.

y. Scheepsbouwkund

TecInkche Higccknn1

Deift

MARIN. Holland's well known Maritime Research Institute Nether-lands, lias facilitics in Wacningcn and in Ede. some 40km east of Utrecht. The research institute operates a wide

range of model test basins, marine simulators and computer systems linked to a CRAY-XMP super compu-ter.

"It was in fact this conibination which enabled MARIN to become one of the world's leading developers of maritime software." says Henk J.J. van den Boom. Head Applied Hyd-rodynamics Research & Development

Division.

"Also the better understanding we have gained of the physical behaviour of marine structures after decennia of research within the institute itself contributed to the present success," Van den Boom explains.

Technological tools

Generally applicable computer

programs for use within the industry at

large are increasingly replacing the

traditional report on the livclrodynamic

characteristics of specific structures. The basic question nowadays is how to simulate - in three dimensions and real

time - the wave induced-motions of moored structures. DF vessels or heavy lift operations.

With MARIN's computers and software even the behaviour of pipes,

lines and flexible risers can he

predic-HARI

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'VNIC OSCILL. -. 7.5 M

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1-lenk Ji, van den Boom,

Head Applied Hydrodynamics Research

and Develonnent Division, MA RIN.

(p/iolo: MA RIN)

ted and visualised. The program used br this, DYNFLX, is an example of how applied industrial research can lead to the development of advanced

tech nological tools.

"Co-operation with industry is very stimulating," Van den Boom says. "Software is expensive, but companies

often have similar needs. Oil

com-panies and offshore contractors favour joint development studies - but they require parctical tools, short delivery times and reliable support. DYNFLX,

Visualisation of D YNFLX-results. (phuk,. filA RIN)

Numerical

simula-tion offlow around

a cylinder.

(p/wto:MA RIN)

6, ¡ro journaal 20, 27oktober1989

for example, was the result of a

prog-ram which started in 1984 with

re-search into the dynamic tensions in anchor chains.

"At that stage a line was suspended

from the oscillating vessel and assumed

to move in still water. In the second phase attention was focussed on

bend-ing stiffness and wave forces actbend-ing

directly on the line. There we created the link with pipes and rigid risers."

rn'The results formed the basis for the simulation model for flexible risers in

three dimensions. In early 1989 the latest version of DYNFLX, incor-porating torsion, was delivered,"

"DYNFLX is the result of five separate projects sponsored by six companies mainly through 1RO. Who could have foreseen this development

in 1984? This way of working,

espe-cially in co-operation with JRO. is unique in the world. The resulting

software is as good as the best packages

produced in other typical offshore countries like Norway and the United

Kingdom." Van den Boom concludes.

Unique

MARIN was founded in 1932 as a

joint research institute for the Dutch shipbuilding industry, the Royal Navy

and the State. It offered facilities for

testing both civil and navy vessels. It

also played an important role in the

Delta Works, the massive construction

project of storm barriers to protect Holland against severe storms.

MARIN and the other major marine research institute in the Netherlands. Delft Hydraulics. complement each

BC?'RIII'RI POI'ENT 6000.

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ARCHIEF

MARIN, world leader ¡n

hydrodynamic software

Software engineering is a high priority of MARIN's Research & De-velopment programme. Both the shipping and offshore industries widely use MARIN's application programs. 1RO plays an iniportant role in

other's work: MARIN concentrates on ships and offshore structures, Deift Hydraulics on coastal works, harbours

and shallow water.

Since the development of the North Sea hydrocarbon reserves began ín the

1960s offshore research has played an

important role in MARIN's activities. For some years the MARIN facilities

such as the wave and current basin were unique in the world. Approxi-mately fifty per cent of all offshore

mooring systems have been tested at MARIN's Wageningen center.

A large amount of work is currently

coming from as far a field as Australia.

Fixed structures are being investigated for the North West Shelf, and floating production systems tested for Timor

Sea locations.

Dynamic Positioning

A major software engineering effort currently performed by MARIN's R&D division concerns the simulation

of DP vessels. The design. engineering

and operation of the rapidly growing

fleet of vessels with advanced station

keeping abilities requires reliable and accurate prediction tools. In the DPSIM-developmcnt project,

MARIN has integrated current

know-ledge on various factors such as wind,

wave and current forces, thruster performance and DP-control.

"DPSIM clearly demonstrates the present day roles of computational analysis and model testing," according to Van den Boom. "The computer program is intensively used for various

IRO-Research

Mini-simulator based On real tune version of DPSIM.

(//Iou: t!ARIN)

engineering studies. Model tests were

not only used to develop and verify the program. but have also been

indispens-able in the final stage of each detailed engineering to establish extrenic loads."

For the DPS tM-development the scope was limited to conventional ship

types such as tankers. The kick-off

7,1ro journaal 20,27 oktober 1989

meeting of the participants in the new development study for semi submersi-bles. logically named DPSEMI. is already scheduled.

International

MARIN continuously works to adjust its facilities to current needs. The institute recently adapted its Wave and Current Basin: 60 meters

long and 40 meters wide. This was

deepened from I.i to 2.0 meters over

an arca of 35 x 20 m. At the centre of

the basin the local depth was increased

to 8.5 meter making it an excellent

facility for realistic wave, wind and

current simulation for floating systems - including mooring and riser systems in water depths of up to 600 meters.

The institute attracts a lot of

interna-tional attention. Van den Boom says. "Sixty per cent of our clients come

from abroad, including the mci-easing

number of foreign participants within the 1RO projects." In spite of heavy competition in the field, he has no

doubt that MA Rl N will maintain its

leading position - because of the knowledge it has becii built up over

the years. u

Turret-moored storage tanker and

export tanker in the Wave uiid Current