Ariane7

USER GUIDE
June 2011

c Bureau Veritas and deals with

This document has been prepared for the users of Ariane7 •
the use of the software.

Research Department
BUREAU VERITAS
92571 Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex
Tel: (33-01) 55 24 74 67
Fax: (33-01) 55 24 70 26

c BV (1991-2010) is distributed by Bureau Veritas.

Ariane7 •
First Printing, December 2007
Revised, June 2011

c
•Bureau Veritas
Contact: Cédric Brun, Damien Coache, Yann Giorgiutti, Romain Anne
email: [email protected]
Contents

Introduction 1

I Getting started 5
1 Minimum requirements 7

2 Installation procedure 1
2.1 Ariane7 setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.2 Ariane7 launching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3 License setting 1
3.1 FlexLm USB Dongle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
3.2 Nodelock License configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3.3 Server License configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

4 Update projects to the Ariane7 format 1

II Inputs 3
5 Main interface Description 1
5.1 Menu bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
5.1.1 File menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
5.1.2 Configuration menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5.1.3 Tools menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.1.4 Help menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.2 Tool bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5.3 Automatic saving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.4 Creating a new project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.4.1 Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.4.2 Status bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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5.4.3 Information log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

5.5 Ariane7 axis systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.5.1 Global axis system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.5.2 Local axis system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

6 Vessels page 1
6.1 Vessel choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
6.2 Description of the vessel geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
6.2.1 Three dimensions visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
6.2.2 Definition of a vessel mesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
6.2.3 Vessel main particulars definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6.2.4 Turrets definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6.2.5 Fairleads definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6.2.6 Control points definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
6.2.7 Fenders attach points definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
6.2.8 Thrusters definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6.3 Loading Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6.3.1 Vessel’s data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
6.3.2 Added mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6.3.3 Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.3.4 Response Amplitude Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.3.5 Quadratic Transfer Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.3.6 Complete Quadratic Transfer Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.3.7 Cross waves full QTF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6.3.8 Wind and current coefficients/forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.3.9 External loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
6.3.10 First order loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
6.3.11 Imposed motions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
6.3.12 Symmetrise inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.3.13 Load a complete hydrodynamic data file . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.3.14 Export hydrodynamic data file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.3.15 Add loading cases to a vessel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
6.4 Export/import vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

7 Lines store page 1

7.1 Segmented line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
7.1.1 Creating a line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
7.1.2 Defining the segments length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
7.1.3 Defining the segment type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
7.1.4 Defining the segment properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
7.1.5 Modifying the line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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7.2 Tabulated Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

7.2.1 Creating a line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7.2.2 Point properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
7.3 Fenders characteristic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
7.4 Export/import a line store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7.5 Lines summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

8 Environment store page 1

8.1 Create an environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
8.2 Environment definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
8.2.1 Wave definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
8.2.2 Wind definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8.2.3 Current definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
8.2.4 Graph zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
8.3 Creating an environment batch file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
8.3.1 Easy generation of environment batch files . . . . . . . . . . . 14
8.3.2 Environment batch file example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
8.3.3 Keywords of an environment batch file . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
8.3.4 Order of the spectrum parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
8.4 Export/import an environment store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

9 Mooring system 1
9.1 Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
9.1.1 Mooring zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
9.1.2 Plane seabed definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
9.2 Vessels settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
9.3 Anchors settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
9.3.1 Anchor creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
9.3.2 Anchor modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
9.4 Lines settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
9.4.1 Create a mooring line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
9.4.2 Lines modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
9.5 Ilines generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
9.6 Fender settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
9.7 Mooring System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
9.7.1 Text summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
9.7.2 Text or Excel summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
9.7.3 Export Diodore line characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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10 Line setup 1
10.1 Line profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
10.1.1 Line profile calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
10.1.2 Line profile display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
10.1.3 Line characteristic display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
10.1.4 Line profile/characteristic dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
10.2 Buoys and sinkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
10.2.1 Buoys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
10.2.2 Sinkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
10.3 Seabed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
10.4 Line control points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

III Calculation 17
11 Static analysis 1
11.1 Setup initial position (SINGLE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
11.2 Rig move (SINGLE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
11.3 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
11.3.1 State of the lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
11.3.2 Equilibrium position under mooring loads only . . . . . . . . . 10
11.3.3 Equilibrium position under environmental conditions . . . . . 11
11.3.4 Equilibrium position under the action of thrusters . . . . . . . 13
11.3.5 Equilibrium position under the action of external loads . . . . 15
11.4 Imposed offset (BATCH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
11.5 Equilibrium Analysis (BATCH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
11.5.1 With constant loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
11.5.2 With environmental loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
11.6 Stiffness matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

12 Time domain simulation 1

12.1 Single time domain simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
12.1.1 Lines activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
12.1.2 Simulation parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
12.1.3 Environmental loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
12.1.4 Calculation options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
12.1.5 Output options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
12.1.6 TDS simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
12.2 Batch time domain analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
12.2.1 Create a batch analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
12.2.2 Setup batch analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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12.2.3 Batch analysis parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

12.2.4 Calculation options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
12.2.5 Output options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
12.2.6 Batch time domain calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
12.2.7 Multiple batch analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

IV Outputs and results 39

13 Static simulation results and outputs 1
13.1 Static analyses results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
13.1.1 Set Up Initial position and Rig Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
13.1.2 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
13.1.3 Batch static calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
13.2 Static instantaneous positions and tensions outputs . . . . . . . . . . 11
13.3 Stiffness Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
13.4 Line profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
13.5 Mooring system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

14 Time domain simulation results and outputs 1

14.1 Simulation results interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
14.1.1 Graphical results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
14.1.2 Animation results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
14.1.3 Fatigue results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
14.2 Simulation results output files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
14.2.1 Excel files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
14.2.2 Text file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
14.3 Save and load results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
14.4 Batch results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
14.4.1 a7r format results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
14.4.2 Custom batch results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
14.4.3 Interface results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

V Tools 31
15 Tables 1
15.1 Item creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
15.2 Item modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
15.3 useful tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
15.4 Excel linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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0-viii CONTENTS

16 Graph zones 1
16.1 Inputs graph zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
16.1.1 Visualisation tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
16.1.2 Export graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
16.2 Results graph zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

17 Mooring zone 1
17.0.1 Interaction tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
17.0.2 Toggle buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

18 Line profile representation 1

18.0.1 interaction tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
18.0.2 Export line profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

19 Three dimensions visualisation 1

19.1 Vessel inputs 3D visualisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
19.2 Results 3D visualisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
19.3 3D visualization options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

VI Abreviations 1

VII Additionnal modules 5

A HydroStar Mooring 7
A.1 HydroStar Mooring page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
A.2 Mesh database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A.3 Calculation parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A.4 Mesh adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
A.5 HydroStar for Experts users feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

List of Figures 24

List of Tables 33

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Introduction

Welcome to the Ariane7 User Guide and thank you for purchasing the Bureau
Veritas mooring software.
The Ariane7 software aims to be a competitive and interactive tool in a mooring
project design. New possibilities have been developed since the last release of Ari-
ane, making Ariane7 a state-of-the-art mooring software for the mooring systems
designers benefit. Indeed, in addition to the previous calculation possibilities of
"Ariane 6.3 3-Dynamics", this version of the software enables the user to perform
simulations closer to reality:

• Multi-body simulations: no limits in the number of structures to be moored

together;

• Shallow water: new developments have been done to perform simulations in

shallow water;

• The new interactive interface allows the user to visualize easily the project
construction, ongoing simulations and visualise the results.

The present User Guide aims to explain how the software interface works and
what are the main possibilities of Ariane7.
This manual has been divided into different parts, corresponding to the main steps
of a mooring project design (see figure 1):

• Inputs: the different structures to be moored and their loading cases, the
mooring lines, the site data;

• Calculation: static and time domain simulations that can be performed on the
defined mooring system;

• Results: outputs given after the calculations.

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0-2 CONTENTS

Figure 1: Global presentation of Ariane7

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CONTENTS 0-3

Figure 2: Ariane7 calculation organisation

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 Part I

Getting started

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Chapter 1

Minimum requirements

Ariane7 has been developed using a multiplatform language: Python. This lan-
guage enables the software to be launched on most of the computers.
However some modules of Ariane7 need some minimum requirements, for example
the 3D visualisation. This module needs a graphic card allowing OpenGL to be
executed.
Recommended configuration:

• Processor: Intel Pentium 2GHz or equivalent;

• RAM: 1Go;

• Graphic card: Radeon 9500 or equivalent;

• Screen resolution: 1280*1024 pixels.

For a good visualisation of all the interface tools and buttons, the minimum screen
resolution should be 1024*768 pixels.

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Chapter 2

Installation procedure

In order to install Ariane7 on a computer, the only thing the user needs is the
executable file named “SetupAriane7.exe”.

Figure 2.1: Ariane7 setup executable file

2.1 Ariane7 setup

When launching this executable file, a popup window appears (see figure 2.2) asking
to select a language for the installation procedure.

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2-2 Installation procedure

Figure 2.2: Ariane7 setup language choice

Once the user has selected the language for the Ariane7 setup tool, clicking on
displays the introduction page of the setup wizard (see figure 2.3).
In order to continue the installation of Ariane7 Bureau Veritas mooring software,

Figure 2.3: Ariane7 setup wizard introduction

please follow the instructions given by the installation wizard.

Once the installation complete, the installation wizard informs the user that the
installation has completed and if he wants to launch the software automatically (see

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2.2 Ariane7 launching 2-3

figure 2.4).
After clicking on the installation of the Ariane7 sofware ends.

Figure 2.4: Ariane7 setup wizard conclusion

Ariane7 is now installed.

An installation directory has been created (by default: “C:/Program Files/Bureau
Veritas/Ariane7”) containing all the files and directories that Ariane7 needs to run.

2.2 Ariane7 launching

Once Ariane7 installed, it can be launched in many ways, depending on the options
chosen in the setup wizard:

• From the ’Start’ menu: “Start -> Programs -> Bureau Veritas -> Ariane7 ->
Ariane7”;

• From the quick launch tool bar

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2-4 Installation procedure

• From a desktop shortcut

In any case, the software can be started launching the Ariane7 icon (see figure 2.5).
Once the program launched, a temporary frame appears on the screen (see fig-

Figure 2.5: Ariane7 icon

ure 2.6) before displaying the Ariane7 main window (see figure 2.7).

Figure 2.6: Ariane7 splash screen

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2.2 Ariane7 launching 2-5

Figure 2.7: Ariane7 main window

As can be seen in the screenshot (see figure 2.7), the first time Ariane7 is
launched a popup window is shown asking for the path to the license file or the
license server.
When specifying it and cliking on , the license will be taken into account
until next Ariane7 update.
Please refer to next chapter to have more information on the different licensing
procedures.

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Chapter 3

License setting

Ariane7 licensing procedure is adjustable to the users expectations:

• No license: the user can open the projects but the modifications will not be
saved and no calculation can be performed;
• 1st level license: the user can save projects modifications but no calculation
can be performed;
• 2nd level license: the user can save projects modifications and perform static
analyses;
• 3rd level license: the user can save projects modifications and perform static
and time domain analyses;
• 4th level license: the user can save projects modifications and perform static,
time domain and dynamic analyses (MCS optional module).
Two ways to get a license are available:

• Nodelock licensing: it is a license linked to one computer;

• Server licensing (with borrow option): there are several licenses on the server
that can be used by every user on the network.

3.1 FlexLm USB Dongle

If the license file is linked to a dongle, it is needed to plug it first. A USB dongle
driver could be needed. It can be downloaded at:
www.macrovision.ie/f tp/Hasp/HASP 4_driver_setup.zip
To install it, the driver setup should be launched and the instructions given followed.

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3-2 License setting

3.2 Nodelock License configuration

If the license file is linked to a dongle, this one should be plugged and the license
file must be copied on the computer.
To configure the license, Ariane7 must be launched. The license path has to be
input selecting Configuration, Options and entering the full license file path (includ-
ing the name of the file) as shown in figure 3.1.
Ariane7 must be restarted to take into account license modifications.

Figure 3.1: Nodelock license configuration

3.3 Server License configuration

If the license file is linked to a dongle, this one should be plugged on the server and
the license file copied on the license server. The FlexLm UserGuide can be used to
configure the license server.
Regarding the Client part of the license, the computer must be connected to the
network. The server name has to be input in Ariane7 selecting Configuration,
Options and entering the server name in the appropriate field as shown in figure 3.2.
Ariane7 must be restarted to take into account license modifications.

Figure 3.2: Nodelock license configuration

With a server licensing service, a user can directly borrow a license for a determined
period. This option is detailed in section 4.1.3 of this document.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

Chapter 4

Update projects to the Ariane7

format

Ariane7 is the new version of the Ariane program, containing the result of more
than 20 years of development.
However this new version has been totally reprogrammed in order to offer a better
user interface and new calculation possibilities. Hence it is not possible to directly
open old projects into the Ariane7 interface.
Nevertheless, it is possible to automatically convert projects and inputs to the Ar-
iane7 format (see section 4.1.3 of this document):

• Ariane6.3 project files: a dedicated tool allows the user to convert Ariane6.3
project files to the Ariane7 format;

• Loading cases input files: dedicated tools allow the user to convert Ariane 6.3
loading case input files to the Ariane7 format. These loading case files con-
cern added mass, damping, Response amplitude Operators, Quadratic Trans-
fer Functions, wind and current coefficients definition;

• Ariane 6 vessel mesh definition files: if the user wants to keep the same vessel
mesh from the old version to the new one, it is possible to convert the Ariane6
vessel mesh definition file to the Ariane7 format;

• HydroStar vessel mesh definition files: the same operation can be done con-
cerning HydroStar vessel mesh files definition.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
 Part II

Inputs

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

Chapter 5

Main interface Description

Once Ariane7 started, an empty display appears (see fig: 5.1).

The following sections describe the main features of the interface.

Figure 5.1: Empty display

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-2 Main interface Description

5.1 Menu bar

Figure 5.2: Menu bar

5.1.1 File menu

Figure 5.3: File menu

• "New" to begin a new project;

• "Open" to open a previously saved project;
• "Close" is the way to close the active project without closing Ariane7;
• "Save" for saving the active project;
• "Save as" is the way to define the active project as another file;
• Then comes an area dedicated to the fast opening of previously saved Ariane7
files;
• "Exit" for closing Ariane7.
As can be seen in figure 5.3, standard keyboard shortcuts are available.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-3

5.1.2 Configuration menu

Figure 5.4: Configuration menu

"Options" allows the user to access a note-book containing different interface

setting parameters (see fig 5.5).

Figure 5.5: Options

• "General" permits to define the interface parameters (window size, license

path...);

• "Main Interface" defines the interface settings (colors, file opening...);

• "MooringSystem" specifies the mooring area definition;

• "LineSetup/LineProfile" allows the user to choose the color parameters for the
Line Setup or Line Profile page;

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-4 Main interface Description

• "Calculation parameters" presents the computing parameters which can be

changed. A great care has to be taken before changing these values;
• “OpenGL” concerns the 3D visualisation tool of Ariane7. Some parameters
can be set in this frame concerning the waves elevation animation. For exam-
ple, Ariane7 calculates the 3D wave elevation which can be a little time con-
suming at the end of a time domain simulation. This option can be bypassed
unticking “With 3D irregular waves” so that the time domain simulation goes
faster.
The following section give more details on the tabs items.

General tab

Figure 5.6: General tab

• Window size: Size of the main Ariane7 window (width x height in pixels).
Default size is 1024x768 pixels;
• Number of temporary files: This enables the user to set the number of
temporary files used in the on fly save and load mechanism. This mechanism
is explained in section 5.2;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-5

• Delete temporary file on exit: Deletes or not the temporary files used for
the on fly save and load mechanism when closing Ariane7;

• Remember active page: Saves the interface page that was active when
closing Ariane7. This page will be displayed when reopening Ariane7;

• Check for update on Ariane7 launching: Checks or not if a new revision of

Ariane7 is available on the www.veristar.com website when opening Ariane7.
A web connection is necessary;

• Default time to display messages (in sec): Time during which messages
will be displayed in the status bar (see section 5.4.2);

• Auto save time interval (in sec): Time interval between auto-backups.
At each of these time intervals, the Ariane7 project file will be saved in
the temporary user directory. If the Ariane7 GUI fails, a message will be
displayed when reopening the GUI asking the user if he wants to open an
automatically saved file (see section 5.3);

• Select foreground color of the main interface: When clicking on the

button, a color palet will be displayed allowing the user to choose a color for
the main Ariane7 interface;

• License server/License file path: Input field in which the user has to
specify the total path to the license file (.lic) or the address of the license
server (see Chapter 3).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-6 Main interface Description

Main interface tab

Figure 5.7: Main interface tab

• Color of the tree background: When clicking on the button, a pallet opens
allowing the user to select the background color of the tree (see section 5.4.1).

• Color of the characters selected: When clicking on the button, a pallet

opens allowing the user to select the foreground color of the selected tree items
(see section 5.4.1).

• Background color of the characters selected: When clicking on the but-

ton, a pallet opens allowing the user to select the background color of the
selected tree items (see section 5.4.1).

• Tree indentation: Right indentation to be applied to the tree sub-branches

according to the upper branch (see section 5.4.1).

• Tree width (in px): Width of the tree (see section 5.4.1) in the main Ariane
window. The width has to be entered specifying the desired number of pixels.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-7

• Start option for the tree display: If ticked, the tree (see section 5.4.1) will
be displayed at Ariane launching. Note that there are options to hide the tree
in the Ariane main window.

• Log height (in px): Defines the height of the Info Log (see section 5.4.3)
frame in the Ariane main window. This height has to be entered giving the
desired number of pixels.

• Log background color: Clicking on the button displays a pallet allowing the
user to define the color of the Info Log background color (see section 5.4.3).

• Open Excel files automatically: If ticked, Excel results files will be opened
automatically. Hence the user won’t have to browse his files to find the Excel
results files.

• Open text files automatically: If ticked, text results files will be opened
automatically. Hence the user won’t have to browse his files to find the text
results files.

• Text editor: The user can define the total path to his favorite text editor
(it can be Excel if desired), so that all results files will open using the chosen
editor. Note that the files will open automatically using this editor only if the
two check buttons located here above have been ticked.

• Default extension for results files: The user can define a default extension
for the results files. All results files will then be saved with this extension.

• Show warning boxes / highlight the info log: The user can choose
between two options. If ticked, show warning boxes will be displayed when
a problem occurs. If not, the warning message will be displayed in the Info
Log (see section 5.4.3) which will be highlighted and a warning sign will be
displayed in the status bar for a limited time.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-8 Main interface Description

Mooring system tab

Figure 5.8: Mooring system tab

• Mooring zone definition (see section 9.1.1)

– Mooring zone color: Clicking on the button displays a pallet enabling

the user to choose the mooring zone background color.
– Mooring zone border color: Clicking on the button displays a pallet
enabling the user to choose the mooring zone border color.
– Mooring zone border width (in px): The input field should be filled
with the desired width of the mooring zone in pixels.
– Canvas motion e <-> w (in px): Number of pixels where the mooring
zone will be translated when the user presses the <Left> and <Right>
keyboard arrows. The default value is 10 pixels, meaning that the moor-
ing zone will be translated of 10 pixels in the West direction when the
<Left> key is pressed and 10 pixels in the East direction when the
<Right> key is pressed.
– Canvas motion n <-> s (in px): Number of pixels where the mooring
zone will be translated when the user presses the <Up> and <Down>

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-9

keyboard arrows. The default value is 10 pixels, meaning that the moor-
ing zone will be translated of 10 pixels in the North direction when the
<Up> key is pressed and 10 pixels in the South direction when the
<Down> key is pressed.
– Toolbar width (in px): Allows the user to define the mooring zone
toolbar width in pixels.
– Color of crosses: Clicking on the button displays a pallet enabling the
user to choose the mooring zone crosses color.
– Resize window automatically: If ticked, the mooring zone display
will be adapted to the Ariane main window size.

• Graphical properties of elements (see section 11.5.1)

– Constant load color: Clicking on the button displays a pallet enabling

the user to choose the constant loads arrows color.
– Arrow definition for constant load: This input field allows the user
to modify the constant loads arrow size.
– Arc definition for size: This input field allows the user to modify the
constant loads arc size.
– Thruster length (px): The input field allows the user to modify the
thrusters representation size in pixels.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-10 Main interface Description

Line setup / line profile tab

Figure 5.9: Line Setup tab

This tab allows the user to change the color of the different elements listed, con-
cerning the Line Setup and Line Profile pages.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-11

Calculation parameters tab

Figure 5.10: Calculation parameters tab

Some of these parameters have to be manipulated with great care as they are
set for a good convergence of the internal algorithms.
Static calculation parameters

• dx parameter (in m): Vessel surge default motion to calculate stiffness;

• dy parameter (in m): Vessel sway default motion to calculate stiffness;

• dphi parameter (in rad): Vessel yaw default rotation to calculate stiffness;

• Force tolerance (in kN): Force tolerance for the static equilibrium conver-
gence;

• Moment tolerance (in kN.m): Moment tolerance for the static equilibrium
convergence;

• Newton step divider: Static equilibrium parameter. See Theoretical Man-

ual for more information;

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-12 Main interface Description

• Max nb of stability researches: Maximum number of stability researches

during static equilibrium calculation. The calculation fails if no stable solution
(according to convergence criteria) was found;

• Coefficient to favor moment compared to loads: Rigmove algorithm

parameter. See Theoretical Manual for more information;

• Coefficient to favor loads compared to distance: Rigmove algorithm

parameter. See Theoretical Manual for more information;

• Coefficient to define the max. limit: Rigmove algorithm parameter. See

Theoretical Manual for more information;

• Tolerance for rigmove calculation: Rigmove algorithm parameter. See

Theoretical Manual for more information;

• Coefficient to influence line distance mini: Rigmove algorithm parame-

ter. See Theoretical Manual for more information;

• Eigenvals tolerance: Stability tolerance according to the maximum eigen-

value. If the maximum eigenvalue of the stiffness matrix is over this tolerance,
the equilibrium position is considered stable. This is part of the Newton algo-
rithm. See Theoretical Manual for more information;

• Max number of iterations: Maximum number of iterations to find a static

equilibrium position.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-13

OpenGL tab

Figure 5.11: OpenGL tab

• With 3D irregular waves: If ticked, Ariane is computing the three dimen-

sional irregular waves after Time Domain Simulations. These 3D waves will
be displayed in the 3D animations. This takes some time and only concern
visualisation. The user may untick this option for performance reasons;

• Number of free surface mesh elements: Discretisation of the 3D free

surface mesh (only for visualization purpose);

• Number of element for 1 irregular wave: Discretisation of one irregular

wave mesh (only for visualization purpose);

• Number of 3D views rows: The 3D view will be split into as many rows
as defined here. Each row will contain its own 3D view;

• Number of 3D views columns: The 3D view will be split into as many

columns as defined here. Each column will contain its own 3D view.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-14 Main interface Description

5.1.3 Tools menu

Figure 5.12: Tools menu

Convert files
"Convert files" allows the user to convert files to the Ariane7 format.

• Ariane6.3 project files: Asks for an Ariane6.3 file to convert (’.ari’), then
for the saving path and name of the converted file (.’ar7’). It is then possible
to directly open the converted file into the Ariane7 interface. The converted
file will then contain every project input but no calculation parameters: it
reads the Ariane6.3 ’.ari’ and ’.lin’ files;

• Ariane6 vessel loading case files: opens a window allowing the user to
convert Ariane 6.3 loading case files to the Ariane7 loading case files for-
mat (Added mass, damping, QTF, RAO, wind and current coefficients). The
Ariane7 loading case file format is given in section 6.3;

• Ariane6 vessel mesh files: opens a window allowing the user to convert
Ariane 6.3 mesh files to the Ariane7 format. Ariane7 mesh files format is
given in section 6.2.2;

• HydroStar vessel mesh files: opens a window allowing the user to convert
Hydrostar mesh files to the Ariane7 format. Ariane7 mesh files format is
given in section 6.2.2;

• WAMIT vessel loading case files: opens a window allowing the user to
convert output file from WAMIT into the Ariane7 input loading case format.
The user will have to define the characteristic length defined in WAMIT and
the reference point for translations. Then clicking on the different buttons, he
will be asked to input the WAMIT output files: *.1 for the Added Mass, *.4
for the RAO, *.8 for the QTF. Once selected, the files will be converted to the
Ariane7 format (see section 6.3).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-15

• AQWA output files: Opens a window allowing the user to convert AQWA
FullQTF (QTF-C) to the Ariane7 format.

• MOSES output files: Opens a window allowing the user to convert MOSES
RAO files to the Ariane7 format.

Borrow license
"Borrow Licenses" permits to borrow a license on a licenses server, during a mission
for example (see figure 5.13). The user has to be warned that if a license is borrowed
on the server, there will be one license missing on it during the borrowing time. If
the borrowing has been successful, a frame is displayed (see figure 5.14);

Figure 5.13: Borrow licenses for a limited duration

Figure 5.14: Successful license borrowing

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-16 Main interface Description

Check for update

“Check for updates” goes on the Internet and checks if a new Ariane7 installer is
available on the “www.veristar.com” website. If no update is available, a message is
displayed (see figure 5.15). If a new revision of the software is available, it proposes
to open the site page where the installer can be downloaded (see figure 5.16). Note
that an Internet connection is necessary. In addition, when opening the software,
Ariane7 automatically checks if a new update is available. If the user wants the
checking to stop, he has to unselect “Check for Ariane7 updates” in ’Configuration
-> Options -> General’.

Figure 5.15: No update available

Figure 5.16: New update available

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.1 Menu bar 5-17

5.1.4 Help menu

Figure 5.17: Help menu

The "Help" menu provides information about Ariane7 and connects to the dif-
ferent manuals that can help the user:

• The "User Guide" (the present manual) dealing with the software use;

• The "Theoretical Manual" which gives information on the Ariane7 theoretical

background.

In addition to the manuals is an “About” item (see figure 5.18) containing the fol-
lowing information:

• A revision number informing the user on the software version. This number
should be communicated to the development team when contacting them;

• The E-mail address to contact the development team in case a problem oc-
curred or if the user has any question regarding the software.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-18 Main interface Description

Figure 5.18: Ariane7 About

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.2 Tool bar 5-19

5.2 Tool bar

Figure 5.19: Tool bar

creates a new Ariane v7 project

opens existing Ariane v7 projects

saves the active project

saves the active project as ...

closes the active project without closing Ariane7

refreshes the active project

shows or hides the tree (will be explained in section 5.4.1)

shows or hide the info log region of the Ariane7 interface (see section 5.4.3)

opens the Ariane7 Microsoft standard help.

represent an "on fly store and load" sys-

tem that can store and load different steps of a
project quickly in temporary files. Because Ariane7 does not have an undo func-
tion, this load and store system is particularly useful when doing an experiment on
a project. Five slots are available in the combo box to save different versions of the
same project (possibility to set more temp files in “Configuration -> Options ->
General”).
It is important to know that the modifications that are made to the project by
the user are not automatically saved, like the previous version of Ariane did. All

modifications should be saved regularly clicking on .

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-20 Main interface Description

5.3 Automatic saving

There is no automatic saving implemented in Ariane7. However, a back up file is
saved every 5 minutes by default in the temporary user repository. If a project file
crashes, the user will be allowed to load the back up file when relaunching Ariane7.
One should be warned that this file, if recovered, should be saved into the desired
directory.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.4 Creating a new project 5-21

5.4 Creating a new project

After clicking on , a new page is displayed (see figure 5.20).

As can be seen in figure 5.20, the "Home page" is divided into two sections.

Figure 5.20: Home page

On the right part of the page the user can find input fields and text zones intended
to provide information on the project.

• Project name: Name of the project that will be written in the output files;

• User name, Company: User personal information;

• Creation date: Project creation date;

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-22 Main interface Description

• User comments frame: Text zone in which the user can specify the project’s
characteristics and personal comments. These comments will appear in the
output files;

• Export light project: Suppresses all that can be recalculated in the database
in order to reduce its size and asks the user to save it in his computer (Dep-
recated in Ariane7.0.2);

• Text file project summary: Exports a summary of the global project in a

text file;

• Regenerate project summary: Generates a summary of the global project

in the text zone underneath;

• General parameters: Project dependant general parameters that will be

effective in the whole database:

– Default number of spectrum frequencies: this number is the default values

for the discretisation of spectra. However this value can be changed when
defining the environmental conditions;
– Env TS duration (s): duration of the environment time series displayed
in the environment page. Please note that this parameter only concerns
visualization of the input;
– Air density: air density used for the calculation of wind loads;
– Water density: water density used for the calculation of current loads;
– Gravity: gravity acceleration;
– Apply parameters to the current project: button on which to click
for the specified parameters to be applied to the whole database.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.4 Creating a new project 5-23

Figure 5.21: Description of the project

On the left part of the screen is a zone called the "tree", allowing the user to
navigate through the software.

5.4.1 Tree
Figure 5.22 represents the tree, summing up all the steps necessary to go through
when building a new project.
As can be seen in figure 5.22, the tree is divided into several sections or "branches".
The tree and its branches will evolve with the project, allowing the user to visualize
his progress.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-24 Main interface Description

Figure 5.22: Tree

The tree always appears on the left of the screen. However , located in the
tool bar, allows the user to show or hide it.
Branches of the tree can be accessed left cliking on them. However, some useful
options can be displayed right clicking on the different items.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.4 Creating a new project 5-25

Next chapters of this guide present the different items of the tree, in order to build
a project step by step.

5.4.2 Status bar

The status bar is located at the bottom of the screen. It gives information (on
the entry fields for example) and house the progress bar during the calculations.
Figure 5.23 gives an example of what can be displayed in the status bar (in this case
when clicking in the "Project name" field).

Figure 5.23: Status bar

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-26 Main interface Description

5.4.3 Information log

The information log is located at the bottom of the main Ariane7 window.

This region can be hidden or displayed clicking on .

This log displays important information during the project creation and during cal-
culation. The user will find here the history of his actions and the errors (if any)
that were generated.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.5 Ariane7 axis systems 5-27

5.5 Ariane7 axis systems

5.5.1 Global axis system
The global axis system is the axis system which origin is the center of the mooring
zone, called ’C’, located on the mean water line. Its axis are pointing towards the
East and North directions respectively called ’E’ and ’N’. Figure 5.24 gives a repre-
sentation of this axis system.
The environmental conditions and the vessel headings are given from the north

Figure 5.24: Global axis system representation

axis, as can be seen in figure 5.25.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-28 Main interface Description

Figure 5.25: Environmental conditions headings in the global axis system

5.5.2 Local axis system

The local axis system is linked to the vessel, representing its coordinates in the
global axis system. Its origin location according to the vessel’s main dimensions is
the following:

• always on the vessel’s keel;

• at a longitudinal location specified by the user from the aft perpendicular;

• at mid breadth.

Figure 5.26 gives a representation of the local axis system.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.5 Ariane7 axis systems 5-29

Figure 5.26: Local axis system representation

The vessels loading cases are defined in this coordinate system (see figure 5.27).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

5-30 Main interface Description

Figure 5.27: Loading cases axis system representation

The vessel main particulars (fairleads, turrets, thrusters, ...) are defined in
this local acis system but the z-axis points upwards. This convention was chosen for
compatibility reasons with Ariane6.3.
Figure 5.28 gives a representation of the relation between the global and the local
axis systems.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

5.5 Ariane7 axis systems 5-31

Figure 5.28: Relation between the local and the global axis systems

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
Chapter 6

Vessels page

This chapter concerns the creation of vessels and the description of their loading
cases.
In order to start the vessel definition, please click on "VESSELS" in the tree.

6.1 Vessel choice

Figure 6.1 shows the vessel management page. This page gives information on the
contents and proposes to choose a vessel type (tanker, FPSO, barge, buoy or semi-
sub).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-2 Vessels page

Figure 6.1: Vessels management page

If one clicks on the "Add an FPSO" button for example, the tree is updated with
the vessel that has been chosen (an FPSO for instance), along with a new branch:
"LoadingCase(1)" (see fig 6.2).
In addition to the tree update, a new page has been opened on the right hand side

Figure 6.2: Tree updated when adding a vessel

of the tree. This page corresponds to the vessel that has been chosen.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.2 Description of the vessel geometry 6-3

6.2 Description of the vessel geometry

Figure 6.3 presents the vessel geometrical parameters page. This page contains
different parts:

• A brief description of the vessel. If the name of the vessel is changed, the tree
will be updated with the new name;

• Input fields allowing the user to enter the main dimensions of the vessel and
the position of the vessel local axis system. Please note that the local axis
system is always located on the keel of the vessel (see figure 5.26);

• A three dimensions visualization of the vessel (see section 6.2.1);

• A note book allowing the user to define turrets, fairleads, control points, fend-
ers attach points and thrusters.

6.2.1 Three dimensions visualization

A three dimensions representation is shown, allowing the user to check the main
characteristics of the vessel (see fig 6.3). All the characteristics of the vessel will be
represented in this 3D tool. The local axis system and the dimensions of the vessel
are set by default when the page is opening. However the fairleads, control points,
fenders and thrusters will be displayed with a colored sphere when set by the user.
Section 6.2.3 will deal with their creation.
If the user wants more details on the 3D visualisation tool, please refer to chapter 19.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-4 Vessels page

Figure 6.3: Description of the vessel overview

6.2.2 Definition of a vessel mesh

Ariane7 contains a database of meshes for the five different kinds of vessels it pro-
poses: a tanker, an FPSO, a barge, a buoy and a semi-sub. This is only a question of
visualization as the calculation doesn’t take into account the meshing of the vessels,
but only the loading cases applied to the structures.
However it is possible to load a specific mesh by clicking on the button in
the "Description of vessel" frame. This will allow the user to select a file containing
a mesh description.
Two files have to be generated: one containing the mesh itself (see figure 6.4) and
another one containing the material and appearance of the mesh (for visualization
purposes, see figure 6.5).
The material file given in this guide is an example.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.2 Description of the vessel geometry 6-5

Figure 6.4: Mesh file format

Figure 6.5: Material file format

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-6 Vessels page

6.2.3 Vessel main particulars definition

The notebook in the bottom half of the page contains the following tabs:

• Turrets: this tab allows the user to generate turrets on the vessel. A turret is
generally used for "single point mooring" systems. The way to define a turret
is explained in section 6.2.4;

• Fairleads: this tab aims to create fairleads on the vessel. This can be done
using different methods, as it is explained in section 6.2.5;

• Control points: these points are meant to be created in order to follow their
trajectory during the simulations. They can be created as explained in sec-
tion 6.2.6;

• Fenders attach points: Fenders can be created between two vessels (linked to
one of the vessels) or between a vessel and a dock (linked to anchors). The
creation of their attach point on a vessel will be explained in section 6.2.7.
Note that only the fenders’ attach point will be created in the vessel geometry
definition, the fenders themselves will be defined later (see section 9.6);

• Thrusters: this tab allows the user to define thrusters on the vessel. They can
be created in the way defined in section 6.2.8.

This part of the project construction concerns only the vessel and its particularities.
Once all the items of the vessel created, the user will be able to connect them to lines
(turrets and fairleads), observe the trajectory of specific points (control points), set
an interaction between two vessels (fenders) and apply thruster loads in the local or
global axis systems.

6.2.4 Turrets definition

A turret model has been implemented in Ariane7, making the sum of the line
moments at the center of the chain table zero.
In order to create a turret object, the user will have to define the center of the chain
table and the fairleads located around it. The "Points properties" frame contains
input fields that have to be filled in order to create the center of the chain table (see
figure 6.6).
More explanations about the tables options are available in chapter 15.
Once the name and coordinates of the turret center filled, clicking on creates
a new chain table center. This one appears in the table with its coordinates (see
figure 6.6) and in the three dimensions visualization of the vessel (yellow sphere).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.2 Description of the vessel geometry 6-7

Figure 6.6: Turrets definition

Once the center of the chain table defined, fairleads can be created around it,
defining a radius from the center and an angle from the vessel x-axis clockwise. Two
methods are available to do so:

• One by one definition: each of the fairleads are defined one by one by the user.
This is done in the exact same way as the chain table center creation. Please
note that it is also possible to copy/paste from Excel, if a chain table center
has been selected;

• Automatic fairlead generation: this tool allows the user to create fairleads
along an arc, which center will be the selected chain table center. The user
has to define the radius from the chain table center, the first azimuth from the
vessel local x-axis, the extent of azimuth and the number of fairleads that are
to be generated (see figure 6.8).

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6-8 Vessels page

Note: More than one line can be connected to a turret fairlead.

x and y coordinates are given in the vessel local axis system (see figure 5.26).
However, the z coordinate of the turret is given according to the altitude of the
point from the vessel keel: the altitude is given in the opposite direction of the local
z axis.
At least one of the chain table center coordinates has to be different from a
point to another: two chain table centers cannot be located at the same place.

6.2.5 Fairleads definition

Figure 6.7: Fairleads definition

There are two different ways of defining fairleads.

• The first one is to define them one by one using the table buttons (see chap-
ter 15) on the top left of the fairlead tab;
• The second allows the user to generate many fairleads in one click using the
fairlead generator locating at the bottom right of the fairlead tab (see fig-
ure 6.8).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.2 Description of the vessel geometry 6-9

Figure 6.8: Fairlead generation example

This generator allows the user to create fairleads along an arc. The user just
has to define the center and the radius of the arc, the first azimuth, the extension
domain and the number of fairleads he wants. Then clicking on will cre-
ate the fairleads which will appear in the table and in the 3D visualization window
(green spheres).
Note: More than one line can be connected to a fairlead.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-10 Vessels page

6.2.6 Control points definition

Figure 6.9: Control points definition

The control point tab of the note book allows the user to create control points
anywhere on the vessel. These control points are meant to follow the trajectory of
a special location of the vessel.
Their definition is done in the same manner as the turret and fairleads definition
above. They appear as blue spheres in the 3D visualization.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.2 Description of the vessel geometry 6-11

6.2.7 Fenders attach points definition

Figure 6.10: Fenders attach points definition

The fenders attach points tab of the note book allows the user to create fenders
attach points anywhere on the vessel. These fenders are meant to push away from
the vessel a second vessel. Their definition is done in the same manner as the turret
anf fairleads definition (see section 6.2.5).
They appear as black spheres in the 3D visualization. In the next steps of the project
creation, the user will be able to set the fender characteristic (behavior) and specify
which vessel is interacting with it (see section 9.6).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-12 Vessels page

6.2.8 Thrusters definition

Figure 6.11: Thrusters definition

The thrusters tab of the note book allows the user to set the thrusters. The
thrusters location is set in the same way as the turrets’ and fairleads’ one (see sec-
tion 6.2.5).
In addition to the location of the different thrusters, the user can impose a direction
(in degrees) and intensity (in kN) according to their action on the vessel. However
setting the direction and intensity is not compulsory in this section as it will be
possible to do it later when performing calculations.
Please note that the input labeled ’0:local/1:global’ is to set the thruster direction
in the local or global axis systems. If 0, azimuth of the thruster from the local x-axis
clockwise; if 1, azimuth of the thruster from the global North axis clockwise.
Thrusters appear as purple spheres or arrows (depending on the intensity) in the
3D visualization.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-13

6.3 Loading Case

At the vessel creation, a tree branch has been displayed under the vessel name:
"LoadingCase(1)". The page displayed when left clicking on it contains the hydro-
dynamic and aerodynamic data concerning the vessel (see figure 6.12).

Figure 6.12: Loading case overview

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-14 Vessels page

6.3.1 Vessel’s data

As can be seen on figure 6.13, it is possible to set a name for each of the created
loading cases (that will then appear in the tree) and also a small description.
The "Vessel’s data" window (see fig 6.13) invites the user to enter:

• "Heel" and "Trim" (in degrees): This option is not available yet;

• "Mean Draft" (in meters): the 3D visualization shows the water plane position
with respect to the vessel’s position;

• "Displacement" (in cubic meters);

• vessel gyration radius in yaw (in meters);

• Center of gravity coordinates (Xg, Yg, Kg) in the vessel local axis system for
x and y coordinates (from keel line upwards for Kg).

Figure 6.13: Description of the vessel loading case

The following sections are going to detail the note book tabs located in the bottom
part of the loading case page.
permits to enter symmetrical hydrodynamic data or not. If
it is ticked, the user can enter the data only on 0 ≠ 180 degrees. The data will be
symmetrised automatically when loading the hydrodynamic files.
Note that if the data entered is already symmetrical, this option will be bypassed.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-15

6.3.2 Added mass

The reference point for the added mass definition is located at the vessel center of
gravity.

Single added mass

The first input is "Added mass". There are two ways to fill in this input. The first
one is simply to fill in the fields in the interface (see fig 6.14). Otherwise the values
can be copied from an Excel file and pasted in Ariane or, on the contrary, copied
from Ariane and pasted in a file with the extension "csv", "xls", "txt" or "dat", using
the two buttons and (or the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + c and Ctrl + v.
The added mass units are in kg, kg.m, kg.m2 .

Figure 6.14: Single added mass interface

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-16 Vessels page

The added mass matrix values are presented in table 6.1:

The second way of entering the added mass values consists in loading a file which

M asurge_surge M asurge_sway M asurge_yaw

M asway_surge M asway_sway M asway_yaw
M ayaw_surge M ayaw_sway M ayaw_yaw

Table 6.1: Single added mass definition

format is given in figure 6.16. To do so, the user has to click on . Then
a dialog window (see fig 6.15) appears where the user is invited to browse into his
files and to choose the one containing the added mass matrix.

Figure 6.15: Dialog window for added mass

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-17

The file (with the extension "csv", "txt" or "dat") must have the same format as
shown in figure 6.16.
In this example, all lines preceded by "#" are recognized as comments by Ariane7,

Figure 6.16: Added mass file

which will not pay attention to them.

If the added mass file introduced before is loaded in Ariane7, the interface is up-
dated as shown in figure 6.17.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-18 Vessels page

Figure 6.17: Added mass entered

Coupled added mass

This section concerns multi-body definition of the added mass: the present vessel
takes into account the added mass of another vessel. This could be necessary in a
side-by-side analysis in which many of the vessels interactions have to be taken into
account.
Table 6.2 shows how to define the added mass matrix in such a case.
When defining the coupled vessel added mass, the user will have to select the

M aves1surge_ves1surge M aves1surge_ves1sway M aves1surge_ves1yaw

M aves1sway_ves1surge M aves1sway_ves1sway M aves1sway_ves1yaw
M aves1yaw_ves1surge M aves1yaw_ves1sway M aves1yaw_ves1yaw
M aves2surge_ves1surge M aves2surge_ves1sway M aves2surge_ves1yaw
M aves2sway_ves1surge M aves2sway_ves1sway M aves2sway_ves1yaw
M aves2yaw_ves1surge M aves2yaw_ves1sway M aves2yaw_ves1yaw

Table 6.2: Coupled added mass definition

correct coupled vessel and give the other part of the 6x6 matrix in the associated ves-
sel added mass. The coupled vessel can be selected from .
The second method for entering the coupled added mass is to load a file clicking on
. The file format is given in figure 6.18.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-19

Figure 6.18: Coupled added mass file

undimensional added mass

Note that it is possible to display the added mass matrix as dimensional or undi-

mensional values, clicking on and .

As can be seen in figure 6.16, it is possible to define the file values as dimensional
(“type 1”) or undimensional (“type 0”) values.
In order to get dimensional values from undimensional values, the added matrix
should be multiplied by the matrix given in table 6.3.
flwater being the water density in kg/m3 and lpp the length between perpendiculars
of the vessel.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-20 Vessels page

flwater ú lpp3 flwater ú lpp3 flwater ú lpp4

flwater ú lpp3 flwater ú lpp3 flwater ú lpp4
flwater ú lpp3 flwater ú lpp4 flwater ú lpp5

Table 6.3: Undimensional matrix

6.3.3 Damping
Damping can be entered in two different ways, either filling in the interface table
values or entering an input file, just like the added mass.
The input file format is shown in figure 6.19.
The damping matrix units are given in kg/s and kg.m2 /s.
Note that the damping matrix is always diagonal in Ariane7 assumptions.
This damping should take into account for both the hydrodynamic damping
and the line damping.
As for the added mass matrix, the damping matrix can be displayed using dimen-

Figure 6.19: Additional damping file

sional or undimensional values.

undimensional damping
The same adimensionalisation matrix than the added mass is used for undimensional
damping.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-21

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-22 Vessels page

6.3.4 Response Amplitude Operators

To enter "Response Amplitude Operators" (RAO), the user must load a file in the
same manner as for the added mass matrix or the damping matrix. However it is not
possible to directly enter the RAO values in the interface considering the amount of
data.
The file format required is shown in figure 6.20.
As for the added mass file, "#" is the comment character.

Figure 6.20: RAO file

Note that each value is separated from the other by a tabulator or with one or more
spacing.
The file has to contain the following keywords:
• "RAO_data:": tells Ariane7 that the file contains RAO values;

• "headings:": precedes the enumeration of all the wave headings (in degrees);

• "frequencies:": precedes the enumeration of all the wave pulsations (in rad/s);

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-23

• "reference point:": precedes the coordinates of the reference point where the
RAO forces are defined (in the local axis system). Note that the user has to
be careful when entering this value because its position corresponds to the one
given by the software that calculated the RAO. Two options are available:

– Define the coordinates of the point in the vessel local axis system: xloc , yloc , zloc
(WARNING: zloc has to be defined considering the local z-axis pointing
upwards)
– Write COG instead of point coordinates. Ariane7 will set the RAO ref-
erence point at the vessel center of gravity. This means that if the user
changes the center of gravity location in the interface, the RAO reference
point will follow.

• “wave reference point:": this is an optional key word. This option is used
to specify the incident wave reference point on the vessel. By default this
reference point is the point where RAO are calculated (see “reference point”
hereabove). However it is possible to modify the wave reference point specify-
ing new coordinates in the vessel local axis system or writing COG. The RAO
phases will then be calculated according to this new wave reference point;

• "raos:": precedes the RAO forces definition (module (meters) and phase(degrees))
for each of the six degrees of freedom. These degrees of freedom have to be
given in the following order: "Surge", "Sway", "Heave", "Roll", "Pitch" and
"Yaw". Each table corresponds to one heading and each line to a frequency.

When loading this file in Ariane7, RAO can be plotted in a graph zone (see fig
6.21). To do so, items to be plotted can be selected in the lists. In addition, ticking
“Module (m)” or “Phase (deg)” show the corresponding values of the RAO from the
input file.
Note that if isn’t ticked, the user needs to enter RAO on 0-360
degrees, otherwise the definition on 0-180 degrees is enough.
RAO can be plotted in two ways: in a cartesian or polar graph (see figures 6.21 and

6.22). Clicking on or allows the user to plot the RAO forces

against circular frequencies (rad/s) or periods (s).
The graph tools use is explained in chapter 16.1.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-24 Vessels page

Figure 6.21: RAO cartesian graph

Figure 6.22: RAO polar graph

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-25

6.3.5 Quadratic Transfer Functions

As can be seen in the “Theoretical Manual”, many formulations are now considered
to calculate the slow drift loads in Ariane7: Newman approximation (QTF0), BV
approximation (QTF0+QTF1), FullQTF formulation (QTF-C), Wave/Current in-
teraction (QTF0+current coefficients).
This section deals with the definition of QTF0 and QTF1.

QTF0
The QTF0 are the Quadratic Transfer Functions calculated fromaccording to the
Newman approximation (please refer to the “Theoretical Manual” for more infor-
mation).
The QTF0 file format is presented in figure 6.23 (the forces have to be given in
kN/m2 and kN/m). In addition, the way to load the file and the graph zone prop-
erties are identical between the RAO tab and the QTF one.
The file has to contain the following keywords:

• "QTF_data:": tells Ariane7 that the file contains QTF values;

• "headings:": precedes the enumeration of all the wave headings (in degrees);

• "frequencies:": precedes the enumeration of all the wave pulsations (in rad/s);

• "reference point:": precedes the coordinates of the reference point where the
QTF forces are defined (in the local axis system). Two options are available:

– Define the coordinates of the point in the vessel local axis system: xloc , yloc , zloc
(WARNING: zloc has to be defined considering the local z-axis pointing
upwards)
– Write COG instead of point coordinates. Ariane7 will set the QTF ref-
erence point at the vessel center of gravity. This means that if the user
changes the center of gravity location in the interface, the QTF reference
point will follow.

• “wave reference point:": this is an optional key word. This option is used
to specify the incident wave reference point on the vessel. By default this
reference point is the point where QTF are calculated (see “reference point”
hereabove). However it is possible to modify the wave reference point specify-
ing new coordinates in the vessel local axis system or writing COG. The QTF
phases will then be calculated according to this new wave reference point;

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6-26 Vessels page

• "qtfs:": precedes the QTF0 forces definition (Fx, Fy (kN/m2 ) and Mz (kN/m)).
Each table corresponds to one heading and each line to a frequency.

Figure 6.23: QTF file for a Newman approximation

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-27

When loading the file, it is possible to visualize the forces in the graph zone, as
figures 6.24 and 6.25 show.

Figure 6.24: QTF cartesian graph

Figure 6.25: QTF polar graph

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-28 Vessels page

QTF1
Ariane7 also provides the possibility to enter QTF approximated on a different
basis (please refer to the “Theoretical Manual” for more information). This type
of approximation is called “BV approximation” in the interface. The QTFs needed
to perform the calculation are the Newman’s QTF (QTF0: please refer to section
6.3.5) and QTF1 (which format is presented hereafter).
The QTF1 file format is presented in figure 6.26. The file has to contain both the
definition of the QTF0 and the QTF1, one after the other. The keywords are the
same as for the QTF0 definition and should not be repeated, except for the “qtfs1:”
keyword preceding the QTF1 definition.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-29

Figure 6.26: QTF file for BV approximation

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-30 Vessels page

When loading the file, it is possible to visualize the forces in the graph zone,
selecting the QTF1 radio button (see figure 6.27). Please note that this option is
only available when QTF1 have been entered in Ariane7.

Figure 6.27: QTF1 graph

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-31

6.3.6 Complete Quadratic Transfer Functions

Ariane7 provides the possibility to enter full (or complete) QTF. These values allow
the user to have more accurate results according to the mooring system configuration
(please refer to the “Theoretical Manual” for more information). As for RAO and
QTF data, QTF-C have to be loaded from an ASCII file. Figures 6.29 and 6.28 give
examples of QTF-C file formats.
The files shown in figures 6.29 and 6.28 have to contain the following keywords:

• "QTFC_data:": informs Ariane7 that the following data concerns full QTF;

• "software:": precedes the type of QTFC definition:

– if 0, the QTF are given according to the couple of frequencies (Êi , Êj )

(see figure 6.28);
– if 1, the QTF are given according to the couple (Ê, ”Ê) (see figure 6.29).

• "headings:": precedes the enumeration of the all the wave headings (in degrees);

• "wave frequencies:": precedes the enumeration of all the wave frequencies (in
rad/s);

• "difference frequencies:": precedes the enumeration of all the delta wave fre-
quencies (in rad/s) (if the QTFC software type is 1). Otherwise, if the QTFC
software type is 0, the keyword should be specified but no values written un-
derneath;

• "reference point:": precedes the coordinates of the reference point of the com-
plete QTF forces. if 0., 0., 0.: center of local axis system. Please note that it is
also possible to write “cog” instead of the coordinates of the point: Ariane7
will then automatically set the moment reference point to the defined vessel
center of gravity;

• “wave reference point:": this is an optional key word. This option is used to
specify the incident wave reference point on the vessel. By default this ref-
erence point is the point where QTF-C are calculated (see “reference point”
hereabove). However it is possible to modify the wave reference point spec-
ifying new coordinates in the vessel local axis system or writing COG. The
QTF-C phases will then be calculated according to this new wave reference
point;

• "qtfcs:": precedes the QTF-C forces definition (real and imaginary parts) for
each of the forces and moment in the water plane (in kN/m2 and kN/m). The
forces have to be given in the following order: force along the x-axis, force along

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-32 Vessels page

the y-axis and the yaw moment. Each sub-table corresponds to one heading
and one frequency, the number of lines being the number of delta frequencies
(sof tware = 1) or the number of coupled frequencies (sof tware = 0).

Figure 6.28: File format of QTFC data (sof tware = 0)

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-33

Figure 6.29: File format of QTFC data (sof tware = 1)

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-34 Vessels page

Figure 6.30 shows the graph zone that allows the user to display the Full QTF
that have been entered.

Figure 6.30: Graphical display of QTFC data

6.3.7 Cross waves full QTF

This option is not available yet as it is in validation process.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-35

6.3.8 Wind and current coefficients/forces

The way to enter wind or current coefficients in their respective pages is the same,
as can be seen in figures 6.31 and 6.32.
There are three manners to define these coefficients.

Figure 6.31: Wind page overview

Figure 6.32: Current page overview

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-36 Vessels page

First method The first method consists of entering coefficients manually, using
Ariane7 interface (see fig 6.33).
The interface allows the user to enter the wind and current characteristics as forces

Figure 6.33: Current coefficients entered manually

(longitudinal and transversal forces in kN.(m/s)≠2 and yaw moment in kN.m.(m/s)≠2 )

or coefficients.
The user also has to fill in the "Vessel description" and the "Moment reference point"
frames. The points then appear in the table.

Second method The second method consists in loading an input ASCII file which
format is given in figure 6.34, by clicking on .

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-37

Figure 6.34: Wind coefficients or forces file format

As can be seen in figure 6.34, the wind and current coefficients file need the
following keywords:
• Wind coefficients file:

– "wind_data:": informs Ariane7 that the file contains wind coefficients;

– “type:”: if set to 1, defined as wind coefficients; if set to 2, defined as
wind forces;

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-38 Vessels page

– "headings:": precedes the enumeration of all the wind headings (in de-
grees);
– "reference point:": precedes the coordinates of the wind coefficients ref-
erence point. Note that it is also possible to write “cog” instead of the
point coordinates so that Ariane7 automatically sets the reference point
at the defined vessel center of gravity;
– "longitudinal area:": precedes the definition of the aerodynamic longitudi-
nal area of the vessel exposed to transversal wind forces (see figure 6.35);
– "transversal area:": precedes the definition of the aerodynamic transversal
area of the vessel exposed to longitudinal wind forces (see figure 6.35);
– "wind coefficients:": precedes the definition of the wind coefficients. Three
columns are necessary in the following order: Cx, Cy, Cz.

Figure 6.35: Areas exposed to wind forces

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-39

• Current coefficients file:

Figure 6.36: Current coefficients or forces file format

– "current_data:": informs Ariane7 that the file contains current coeffi-

cients;
– "headings:": precedes the enumeration of the all the current headings (in
degrees);

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-40 Vessels page

– “type:”: if set to 1, defined as wind coefficients; if set to 2, defined as

wind forces;
– "reference point:": precedes the coordinates of the current coefficients
reference point. Note that it is also possible to write “cog” instead of the
point coordinates so that Ariane7 automatically sets the reference point
at the defined vessel center of gravity;
– "coef molin:" and "coef munk:": precede the definition of Munk’s and
Molin’s additional moments to the yaw moment (see the theoretical man-
ual for more information);
– "current coefficients:": precedes the definition of the current coefficients.
Three columns are necessary in the following order: Cx, Cy, Cz.

Third method Finally, the last way to define the coefficients allows the user to
enter the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) coefficients, which
are databases of coefficients for tankers. To do this, the user needs to define the
OCIMF’s parameters if needed, and click on (see fig 6.37).

Figure 6.37: OCIMF Parameters

Table and graphs The coefficients table can be exported selecting the Ariane
table and pressing , then by pasting in a file ("csv", "txt", "dat" or "xls"). The
contrary is also possible.
More information on the table options are available in part “Tools”. In addition
to the table, wind and current coefficients (as well as forces) can be displayed in a
graphical way (see figure 6.38) by clicking on the "Coef. graphs" tab.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-41

Molin and Munk coefficients Molin and Munk coefficients are not necessary
for the current coefficients definition, but will be used during the static and time
domain calculations.
Please refer the Theoretical Manual for more details.

Figure 6.38: Current coefficients displayed as graphs

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-42 Vessels page

6.3.9 External loads

External loads can be defined in the vessels loading case, to take into account con-
stant loads according to the vessels position in the mooring zone. The user will then
have to specify the value of the constant load to be applied to the vessel reference
point according to East and North coordinates.
Constant loads are input in Ariane7 by the mean of a file, which format is given
in figure 6.39.
The input file presented in figure 6.39 have to contain the following keywords:

• “external_load:” : informs Ariane7 that the following data concerns external

loads definition;

• “load labels:”: precedes the definition of the different labels that will represent
each of the loads defined in the file. For example if three different loads are
defined in the file, three labels have to be defined;

• “reference point:” : precedes the definition of the vessel moment reference

point where the external loads will be applied, in the vessel local axis system.
Please note that it is also possible to write “cog” instead of the point coordi-
nates so that Ariane7 sets automatically the vessel center of gravity as the
reference point;

• “east positions:” : precedes the enumeration of the East positions where the
external loads will be defined in the mooring zone. Combined with the North
positions given hereafter, a grid will be drawn on the mooring zone, containing
nodes on which constant loads will be defined;

• “north positions:” : precedes the enumeration of the North positions where

the external loads will be defined in the mooring zone;

• “load data:” : precedes the external loads definition for each of the nodes of
the grid. Each node has to be defined with East load (kN ), North load (kN )
and moment (kN.m) values (see figure 6.39). The grid has the same shape as
the mooring zone: East positions are given in lines (growing from left to right)
and North position are given in columns (growing from bottom to top);

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-43

Figure 6.39: External loads input file format

Once the file loaded into the Ariane7 interface, it is possible to visualize the
grid (or mooring zone) showing the external loads (kN ) according to their position
in East and North (see figure 6.40).
To do so, the user has to select the load he wants to visualize (Feast, Fnorth or Mz)
and select the external load in the labels list. The chosen external load then appears
in the graph zone located on the right.
The graph zone functioning is explained in chapter16.1.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-44 Vessels page

Figure 6.40: External loads visualization

6.3.10 First order loads

This option is not available yet as it is in validation process.

6.3.11 Imposed motions

Imposed motions concern the vessels motions in time domain. With this option, it is
possible to impose the vessel motions during the simulation to study their influence
on the line loads.
The file format for this option is given in figure 6.41.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-45

Figure 6.41: Imposed motions file format

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-46 Vessels page

Once this file input, the values can be visualized in the graph zone, clicking on
the different labels (see figure 6.42).

Figure 6.42: Imposed motions visualisation

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.3 Loading Case 6-47

6.3.12 Symmetrise inputs

allows the user to symmetrise the hydrodynamic data that has al-
ready been entered. This option will symmetrize values entered from 0¶ to 180¶ on
180¶ to 360¶ , or values entered from 180¶ to 360¶ on 0¶ to 180¶ .
Otherwise , when ticked, allows the user to enter non symmet-
rical data, that is automatically symmetrised when loaded in the Ariane7 interface.

6.3.13 Load a complete hydrodynamic data file

allows the user to enter a file containing all the different

vessel loading cases inputs:

• added mass matrix;

• damping matrix;

• RAO;

• QTF;

• QTF-C;

• wind and current coefficients;

• external loads;

• imposed motions.

To do this, each part described before can be put one after the other in an ASCII
file.
However it is not compulsory to provide data for all of the hydrodynamic inputs,
the file can contain only some of them.
When one of the loading case input is missing in the complete file, Ariane7 display
a message saying that it is missing. This message is not an error message but only
for the user information.

6.3.14 Export hydrodynamic data file

Once loading case data entered in Ariane7 interface, it is possible to export it in
files again, using to different methods:

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-48 Vessels page

• Separate files: clicking on in each of the loading case tab allows

the user to export each of the loading cases individually (in different files);

• Common file: clicking on exports all the defined loading

cases in the same file.

The format of the file is the same as for the input files, meaning that exported files
can be loaded again in the Ariane7 interface.

6.3.15 Add loading cases to a vessel

It is possible to create different loading cases for the same vessel that will be used
as wished for the calculations. Adding a loading case is done by right clicking on
the vessel name in the tree and by selecting "Add Loading Case" (see figure 6.43).
This option enables the user to use the same vessel geometry (only one vessel has to
be created) and to select which loading case corresponds to the desired calculation.
It is also possible to delete a loading case in the same manner, selecting “Delete

Figure 6.43: Adding a loading case

Loading Case”.

• It is necessary that the user defines loading case components before performing
a mooring analysis:

– Static analyses: Vessel’s data frame, QTF, current and wind coefficients;
– Time Domain Simulations: All loading case data including RAO if wave
frequency calculations are performed.

• The hydrodynamic inputs correspond to one particular loading case. Changing

the vessel’s displacement for example needs a new definition of the loading case.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

6.4 Export/import vessels 6-49

6.4 Export/import vessels

Each vessel can be saved, along with its loading cases. This can be done by right
clicking on the name of the vessel to be saved, in the tree (see figure 6.44).
If the user wants to use a vessel that has already been defined, two different methods

Figure 6.44: Export a vessel

can be used:

• pressing on , located in the main page of the vessels

definition (accessible by clicking on "VESSELS" in the tree). This button
opens a dialog window allowing the user to look for his file (see fig 6.45). As
can be seen on the screen shot, the loaded file must have ".ves" as extension.
By saving vessels, users can constitute a database which can be used anytime.

• right clicking on "VESSELS" in the tree and selecting “Import a vessel”.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

6-50 Vessels page

Figure 6.45: Import a vessel

-Ariane7, User Guide-

Chapter 7

Lines store page

This chapter deals with the mooring lines addition to the user’s project. The line
page appears when clicking on "LINES STORE" in the tree (see fig 7.1).
Two types of lines can be added to the lines store:

• Segmented lines: the user defines the different segments of the line, specifying
all their properties;

• Tabulated lines: the user defines the horizontal tension in the line against the
horizontal distance between the fairlead and the anchor;

A line created in the line store can be used for many mooring lines if they have
the same properties and segments. Indeed the installed line length will be adjustable
according to the desired installed line paid out length. It is just a type model, that
can also be used in different projects.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-2 Lines store page

Figure 7.1: Lines store management page

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.1 Segmented line 7-3

7.1 Segmented line

7.1.1 Creating a line

A segmented line can be created when clicking on . The seg-

mented line page (see fig 7.2) is then displayed on the right part of the interface.
As can be seen on the screen shot, the tree is updated with a new branch called

Figure 7.2: Lines main interface

"Line(1)" and its segment. Lines and segments can be respectively added by right
clicking on the new branch (see fig 7.3) or the segment branch. When a segment is
added, a new branch is added to the tree. In the same manner, a segment or a line
can be deleted.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-4 Lines store page

Figure 7.3: Adding a segment

Furthermore, it is possible to rename the lines and the segments, filling in the
"Line Name" and the "Segment Name" fields. The tree will be updated accordingly.
The first segment created is located on the anchor side of the line.

7.1.2 Defining the segments length

When creating a segmented line, the user will have to define the length of each
segment, to obtain the total line length. When the length of the segment is defined,
a representation of the line is shown at the top of the page (see figure 7.4). This
scale shows each of the segments that have been defined.
Furthermore, the segments pages are accessible by clicking on the portion of the line
it concerns.

Figure 7.4: Representation of the line showing the proportion of each of the segments
in the total length

7.1.3 Defining the segment type

Predefined segments
Ariane7 owns a rich database of predefined segments (see fig 7.5), but it is also
possible to add some specific ones. Each segment is brightened up with a represen-
tation (see fig 7.5) which aims to show what type of line is chosen.
When selecting one of these predefined segments, Ariane7 fills in the input fields of

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.1 Segmented line 7-5

Figure 7.5: Predefined segments

the segment properties with default values, according to the line type and diameter
defined. It is however possible to modify these values.

User defined segments

In order to increase the database with new segment types, the user can select <New>
in the drop-down menu.
Then, the segment page has to be filled (properties of the segment) with the desired
values.
Once the properties all set up, the user can choose a name for the new segment and
write it in the input field of the "Predefined segment" frame. The database can then
be updated with the new segment type clicking on .

7.1.4 Defining the segment properties

Each segment is defined by its material, dynamic, elastic and fatigue properties (see
fig 7.6).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-6 Lines store page

Figure 7.6: Example of a segment properties

Material properties
• Mass in air per unit length in kg/m;

• Mass in water per unit length in kg/m;

• Friction coefficient on the seabed;

• Breaking load of the segment in kN .

Dynamic properties (only used for MCS Line Dynamics calculation mod-
ule)
• Effective drag diameter in mm;

• Normal drag coefficient;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.1 Segmented line 7-7

• Tangential drag coefficient;

• Normal inertia coefficient;

• Tangential added mass coefficient;

• Transverse friction coefficient;

• Proposed element length (m): Length of the finite element during line dynam-
ics calculation;

• Number of data points per element: Number of points per finite element were
results will be available.

Polynomial elasticity properties

The elasticity properties allow the user to obtain the segment elastic curve:
T /BL = f (dL/L) with:
• T : the tension in the line (kN);

• BL: the line breaking load (kN);

• dL: small portion of the segment length (m);

• L: total length of the segment (m).

In order to define this curve, the user has to define the coefficients of the polynomial
equation:
dL/L = cst + a.T + b.T 2 + c.T 3 + d.T 4 + e.T 5 + f.T 6
With:
• dL/L: the elongation of the line;

• cst, a, b, c, d, e, f : the polynomial equation coefficients;

• T : the tension in the line (in kN).

Once the coefficients defined, the elastic curve of the segment is drawn in the graph
zone located in the "Elastic curve" frame.

Fibre rope multielasticity properties

In case the selected segment is “Multi-elasticity fiber rope”, the elasticity properties
frame is different than for the other segments (see figure 7.7).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-8 Lines store page

Figure 7.7: Example of a multi-elastic curve definition

Fiber rope’s elasticity is defined according to the following equations during

static equilibrium computation:

10
• T
BL
< 10%: dLL
(T ) = dL
L
(10) ≠ Krs·
ú (u + 1.8 ú u3.6 )
where u = 1 ≠ 10
T

(T ≠T 0)
• 10% < T
BL
<= 30%: dL
L
(T ) = dL
L
(T 0) ú Krs·

(30≠T 0) (T ≠30)
• 30% < T
BL
: dL
L
(T ) = dL
L
(T 0) + Krs·
+ Krs12h

However, during time domain simulations, the fiber rope elasticity will be calculated
according to the following linear equation (around a functioning point given by a
static equilibrium):
Krd = Krd0 + BL T
ú Krd1

It is important to know that the dynamic stiffness is calculated considering the

equilibrium position of the mooring system. Indeed, the line elasticity is changed
for dynamic calculations considering the tension at equilibrium position.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.1 Segmented line 7-9

That means that for some applications, the polyester lines model defined in Ar-
iane7 may not be relevant. This could be the case for squall applications, which
equilibrium position may not be the mean position during a time domain simulation.
Please refer to the “Theoretical Manual” for more details on the fiber ropes calcu-
lation.

Input points elasticity

It is also possible to load a file containing the coordinates of an elasticity curve
clicking on . The elasticity coefficients will then be calculated
from those input points, performing a polynomial regression at the order specified

by the user in . The file format is explained in figure 7.8.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-10 Lines store page

Figure 7.8: Example of an elastic curve definition

Fatigue properties
Fatigue properties of the segments can be entered in the fatigue properties frame
(see figure 7.9). Fatigue coefficients have to entered according to the following equa-

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.1 Segmented line 7-11

Figure 7.9: Fatigue coefficients definition

tion:
N ú ( BL
T m
) = K, N being the cycle number
The corrosion thickness (in mm) is used to calculate the chain segments fatigue at
the end of its life, taking into account a diameter reduction.
Fatigue calculation of the chain segments is performed according to the equivalent
ORQ chain type breaking load, as required in the regulation documents.
Please refer to the “Theoretical Manual” for more details on fatigue calculation.

7.1.5 Modifying the line

Any input field located in the segments page can be modified, the modifications will
be directly taken into account in the line model.
It is also possible to change a segment’s location in the line, right clicking on it in
the tree and selecting ’Move Up’ or ’Move Down’ (see figure 7.10).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-12 Lines store page

Figure 7.10: Segment options

As can be seen in figure 7.10, it is also possible to copy/paste segments (or lines)
using ’Copy Segment’ (’Copy Line’) and ’Paste Segment’ (’Paste Line’). In the same
way it is also possible to delete unwanted lines or segments.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.2 Tabulated Line 7-13

7.2 Tabulated Line

7.2.1 Creating a line

Clicking on in the "LINES STORE" page allows the tabulated

line page to be displayed (see figure 7.11).
As can be seen, the tree is now updated with "Tline(1)" under "LINES STORE".
A tabulated line is a line only defined with its characteristic curve (horizontal

Figure 7.11: Tabulated line page

tension in the line against horizontal distance between anchor and fairlead).

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7-14 Lines store page

7.2.2 Point properties

This frame allows the user to define the different points of the curve. These points
coordinates are horizontal distance in meters (x-axis) and horizontal tension in kilo-
Newton (y-axis). The table options are explained in more details in chapter 15.
Once at least two points are entered, the line characteristic appears in the graph
zone (see figure 7.12).
The inputs points horizontal distance has to be entered in an increasing man-
ner.
Please note that it is also possible to copy the line characteristic directly from an
Excel file.
The calculation of a line profile for such a line is not available.

Figure 7.12: Tabulated line graph

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.3 Fenders characteristic 7-15

7.3 Fenders characteristic

Fenders characteristics are considered as tabulated lines. Indeed, they represent a
reaction force according to a horizontal distance between two vessels or between a
vessel and a dock.
This kind of tabulated line is different from a typical line as it represents a reaction
force (hence negative tension values). An example of fender characteristic is given
in figure 7.13.
However, for stability reasons, Ariane7 needs a better definition of the fender’s

Figure 7.13: Fender characteristic example

characteristic. Indeed, when the horizontal distance between the vessels becomes
zero or negative, a very high reaction force should be entered, for the vessels to
reject each other instead of superimposing. According to the characteristic given
in figure 7.13, the fender characteristic to enter in Ariane7 should look as the one

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-16 Lines store page

given in figure 7.14.

Figure 7.14: Fender characteristic example suitable for Ariane7

-Ariane7, User Guide-

7.4 Export/import a line store 7-17

7.4 Export/import a line store

Exporting the created line store (all lines created under “LINES STORE”) is done
by clicking on , located in the lines main page (accessible by left
clicking on "LINES STORE"). Another option is to right click on "LINES STORE"
in the tree and to select "Export store" (see fig 7.16).
On the contrary if a previous line store is needed, selecting will

Figure 7.15: Export a line store

enable its importation.

7.5 Lines summary

Figure 7.16 gives information on the lines summary option. This option is very
useful when the user wants to change easily the lines length without clicking on all
the lines segments pages.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

7-18 Lines store page

Figure 7.16: Lines Store management and lines summary

-Ariane7, User Guide-

Chapter 8

Environment store page

8.1 Create an environment

When selecting "ENVIRONMENT STORE" in the tree, the environment store man-
agement page appears (see fig 8.1). This page gives a description of the environ-
mental conditions possible to define within the Ariane7 software.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-2 Environment store page

Figure 8.1: Environment store management page

When clicking on , a new branch called "Env

(1)" is created and added to the tree under "ENVIRONMENT STORE". The envi-
ronment page is displayed on the right part of the screen (see fig 8.2).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.1 Create an environment 8-3

Figure 8.2: Environment page

One or more environment can be created in the same way or by right clicking
on "ENVIRONMENT STORE" and selecting "Add an environment" (see fig 8.3). It
is possible to delete an environment in the same manner. If many environmental
conditions are created, it will then possible to choose one or the other for the cal-
culations.
A name and a short description can be given, in the input fields provided.

Figure 8.3: Add an Environment

The environmental conditions page is divided into four parts: waves description,

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-4 Environment store page

wind description, current description and a graph zone.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.2 Environment definition 8-5

8.2 Environment definition

8.2.1 Wave definition
Up to five independent waves can be created in Ariane7. The number of waves to
define is set in the input field . In case two
waves are needed, the user will be able to define each one separately, selecting it
with the radio buttons.
The wave definition is done using wave spectra. Ariane7 will select random circular
frequencies in the wave spectrum in order to perform the calculation (see Theoreti-
cal manual).

Predefined spectrum definition

Ariane7 wave spectra library contains the following models:

• Elementary Airy Wave;

• Gauss;

• ISSC;

• Jonswap;

• ITTC;

• Ochi-Hubble;

• Ochi-Hubble-3Comp;

• Pierson-Moskowitz;

• Darbyshire.

In order to have more information on these different spectra, please refer to Ari-
ane7 Theoretical Manual. This manual gives information on the different spectrum
parameters.
Once a wave spectrum chosen, the spectrum parameters are displayed in the "Spec-
trum parameters" frame. These parameters vary from a spectrum to another (see
Ariane7 Theoretical Manual for more information). However, other parameters are
common between the different models:

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-6 Environment store page

• Min frequency (Hz): minimum frequency of the spectrum. Please note that
this minimum frequency is defined only for visualization reasons in this page.
During the calculations, the spectrum will be truncated according to the QTF
frequency values;

• Max frequency (Hz): maximum frequency of the spectrum. As for the mini-
mum frequency, this maximum frequency will be truncated according to the
QTF frequency values during the calculations;

• Wave heading: angle of the wave "coming from” direction from the North axis
in the global axis system. If the heading is 0¶ , the wave will come from the
North (positive rotation clockwise around the center of the global axis system);

• Seed of wave random generator: allows to reproduce the same time series from
a simulation to another if set to a specific constant, other than 0. The time
series are also identical from a computer to another when fixing the seed. If
the seed is set to 0, the wave time series will vary from a simulation to another;

• Nof regular airy waves: the higher the more refined will be the spectrum, but
the longer the simulations.

Wave discretized spectrum definition

Ariane7 gives the possibility to directly enter discretized wave spectra, selecting
"Discretised Spectrum" in the wave spectrum list box. allows
the user to browse into his files and select a file containing discretized wave spectrum
values. The values needed are the spectral density (m2 /Hz) according to the wave
frequencies (Hertz).
Figure 8.4 gives the input file format to define a discretized spectrum.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.2 Environment definition 8-7

Figure 8.4: Discretised spectrum file format

In case of a discretized spectrum, the wave parameters that the user has to define
in the interface are the following:

• Min. frequency (Hz): set by default to the minimum frequency value specified
in the file by the user;

• Max. frequency (Hz): set by default to the maximum frequency value specified
in the file by the user;

• Heading (degrees from the North axis). If the heading is 0¶ , the wave will
come from the North (positive rotation clockwise around the center of the

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-8 Environment store page

global axis system);

• Seed of random generator: allows to reproduce the same time series from a
simulation to another if set to a specific constant, other than 0. The time
series are also identical from a computer to another when fixing the seed;

• Nof regular airy waves: the higher the more refined will be the spectrum, but
the longer the simulations.

Wave imposed signal definition

Selecting ’Imposed Signal’ in the wave spectra list allows the user to define its
own spectrum, specifying the following information for each of the wave spectrum
frequencies (in Hz):

• the spectrum spectral density in m2 /Hz;

• the wave amplitude in meters;

• the wave phasis in degrees.

Figure 8.5 gives information on the file format that has to be entered in the
Ariane7 interface, clicking on .

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.2 Environment definition 8-9

Figure 8.5: Imposed spectrum file format

Because all the wave parameters have been defined by the user in the input file,
only the heading of the wave will be modifiable in the Ariane7 interface. The wave
time series will then always be the same.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-10 Environment store page

8.2.2 Wind definition

The wind definition works in the exact same way as the wave one.

Predefined spectrum definition

Ariane7 wave spectra library contains the following models:

• API;

• Kaimal;

• Hino;

• Wills;

• Ochi-Shin;

• Queffelou;

• NPD;

• Harris DNV;

• Davenport;

• Kareem.

As for the wave spectra definition, the wind spectra parameters differ from a spec-
trum to the other (see Theoretical Manual for more information). However some
parameters are common:

• Mean velocity of the wind (in m/s);

• Heading of the wind (in degrees from the North axis). If the heading is 0¶ , the
wind will come from the North (positive rotation clockwise around the center
of the global axis system);

• Seed of wind random generator: allows to reproduce the same time series from
a simulation to another if set to a specific constant, other than 0. The time
series are also identical from a computer to another when fixing the seed;

• Nof regular winds: the higher the more refined will be the spectrum, but the
longer the simulations.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.2 Environment definition 8-11

Wind discretized spectrum definition

This is done in the exact same way as for the discretized wave spectrum.

Wind Time Series definition

Ariane7 allows the definition of wind time series when selecting the item "Wind
time series" in the wind spectra list box.
allows the user to browse his files to load a file containing the time
series data. The file format is given in figure 8.6.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-12 Environment store page

Figure 8.6: Wind time series file format

The velocity multiplicative coefficient (set to 1 by default) can be used to amplify

or reduce the wind velocity in case a unitary time series is given. For example if set
to 2, the wind velocity will be twice as strong as the velocity given in the file.
The heading offset, set to 0 by default enables the user to impose an offset (in de-
grees) to the headings entered in the wind time series file. For example, if set to
10¶ , all headings entered in the file will be incremented of 10¶ .

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.2 Environment definition 8-13

8.2.3 Current definition

Ariane7 proposes a constant current, hence not depending of time and depth. The
current parameters are then:

• Current velocity (in m/s);

• Current heading (in degrees from the North axis). If the heading is 0¶ , the
current will come from the North (positive rotation clockwise around the center
of the global axis system).

8.2.4 Graph zone

Once an environmental condition created, the list boxes below the graph zone are
updated. For example if a wave has been created, its main particulars appear in the
list boxes (see figure 8.7):

• Spectrum: a representation of the spectrum is shown in the graph zone;

• Time Series: a representation of the time series calculated randomly from the
spectrum is shown in the graph zone, according to the seed chosen (if 0, the
time series will change randomly);

• Heading: the heading of the environmental condition is shown in the graph

zone.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-14 Environment store page

Figure 8.7: Jonswap spectrum representation and time series of incident wave

8.3 Creating an environment batch file

8.3.1 Easy generation of environment batch files
Ariane7 gives the user the possibility to easily create environment batch files. This
makes the file formatting easier, as the batch files have to contain all the environ-
ment parameters in a given order.
Environment batch files will be used for static or time domain calculations.

Creating a batch file can be done clicking on . In addition the user

can choose the number of environments he would like in the file, specifying a number

in (see figure 8.8).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.3 Creating an environment batch file 8-15

Figure 8.8: Environmental conditions batch file generation

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-16 Environment store page

8.3.2 Environment batch file example

Figure 8.9: Batch file for environmental conditions

8.3.3 Keywords of an environment batch file

The uppercase and lowercase of the spectrum names are important.
Keywords are necessary at the beginning of the file:

• "wavemodel:" followed by the waves spectra names;

• "windmodel:" followed by the wind spectrum name;

• "currentmodel:" followed by the current spectrum name (NoSpectre);

• "batch:" to begin the parameters definition. Each line corresponds to the

definition of an environmental condition, hence an equilibrium or time domain
calculation for that particular environment. The number of calculations is
given by the number of lines in the batch file.

It is possible not to write all of the keywords. For example if the user wants to
define only wave parameters in its batch file, only the “wavemodel:” keyword and
spectrum parameters would be needed. Be careful that only wave parameters are
specified or the batch file won’t be loaded correctly in the Ariane7 interface.
In addition, it is possible to specify a wind/wave discretised spectrum or a wave

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.3 Creating an environment batch file 8-17

imposed signal in the environment batch file. One should be warned that the spec-
trulm parameters are then not needed.
This is done as shown in

Figure 8.10: Batch file for environmental conditions

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8-18 Environment store page

8.3.4 Order of the spectrum parameters

Tables 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 give a summary of the spectrum names along with their
parameters in the right order. For each of the spectra given in the tables columns,
the numbers represent the different parameters needed and their order of appearance
in the batch file (’/’ means that the parameter is not needed).
“Wind Time Series” is the keyword employed to use an input file containing

Wind Discretised Spectrum

Wind Time Series
Froya (NPD)
Harris/DNV
Queffeulou
Davenport

Ochi-Shin

Constant
Kareem
Kaimal

Wills
Hino

API
Wind spectrum parameters
Surface drag coefficient k 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 / / / / /
Height z / 2 2 2 / 2 / 2 / / / / /
Spectrum amplitude velocity 2 3 3 / / / / / / / / / /
Representative length scale L 3 / / / 2 / 2 / / / / / /
Ri / 4 / / / / / / / / / / /
Factor n / / / / / / / / 1 / / / /
Factor fp/V / / / / / / / / / 1 / / /
Mean velocity 4 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 / /
Spectrum minimum frequency 5 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 / / 1
Spectrum maximum frequency 6 7 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 / / 2
Heading 7 8 7 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 2 / 3
Seed of random generator 8 9 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 / / 4
Nof regular winds 9 10 9 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 / / 5
Total path to the file / / / / / / / / / / / 1 /
Velocity multiplicative coef / / / / / / / / / / / 2 /
Heading offset / / / / / / / / / / / 3 /

Table 8.1: Wind spectrum names and order of parameters.

wind time series values (see section 8.2.2). To do so, the total path to the file has
to be specified, between double quote (ex: “c:/UserGuide/windtimeseries.txt”).
“Constant” is the keyword used for constant wind.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.3 Creating an environment batch file 8-19

In case of discretised wave or wind spectrum or wave imposed signal, the path
to the input file has to be specified as shown in 8.11.

Figure 8.11: Batch file for discretised and imposed signals

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8-20 Environment store page

Discretised Spectrum
Ochi-Hubble-3Comp
Pierson-Moscowitz

Imposed Signal
Ochi-Hubble
Darbyshire
Jonswap

Gauss
ITTC
ISSC

Airy
Wave spectrum parameters
Gamma / / / / 1 / / / / / /
Sigma1 / / / / 2 / / 3 / / /
Sigma2 / / / / 3 / / / / / /
Lambda1 / / / / / 1 1 / / / /
Lambda2 / / / / / 2 2 / / / /
Lambda3 / / / / / / 3 / / / /
Wave significant height 1 1 1 / 4 3 4 1 1 / /
Wave mean zero up crossing period 2 2 / / / / / / 2 / /
Modal peak period / / / / 5 4 5 2 / / /
Wind significant height / / / / / 5 6 / / / /
Wind mean visual period / / / / / 6 7 / / / /
Wave significant height 3rd Comp / / / / / / 8 / / / /
Modal peak period 3rd Comp / / / / / / 9 / / / /
Wind velocity at 19.5m / / / 1 / / / / / / /
Spectrum minimum frequency 3 3 2 2 6 7 10 4 / / 1
Spectrum maximum frequency 4 4 3 3 7 8 11 5 / / 2
Heading 5 5 4 4 8 9 12 6 3 1 3
Seed of random generator 6 6 5 5 9 10 13 7 / / 4
Nof regular Airy waves 7 7 6 6 10 11 14 8 / / 5

Table 8.2: Wave spectrum names and order of parameters.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.3 Creating an environment batch file 8-21

Current parameters Constant

Mean velocity 1
Heading 2

Table 8.3: Current spectrum name and order of parameters.

Parameters have to be entered in the following order: wave parameters (up to

five waves available), then wind parameters and at last current parameters. Each
line corresponds to one environmental condition, hence one calculation.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

8-22 Environment store page

8.4 Export/import an environment store

The export function is available by clicking on lo-
cated in the "ENVIRONMENT STORE" management page(see fig 8.1). This option
will enable the user to export all the environmental conditions created under “ENVI-
RONMENT STORE”. Otherwise it is possible to right click on "ENVIRONMENT
STORE" in the tree and select "Export store" (see fig 8.12).
On the contrary, if a previously saved environment store is needed, the user can
click on .

Figure 8.12: Export an environment

-Ariane7, User Guide-

8.4 Export/import an environment store 8-23

Figure 8.13: Import an environment

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
Chapter 9

Mooring system

9.1 Site
When selecting "Site" in the tree, the site definition page appears (see fig 9.1).

9.1.1 Mooring zone

The mooring zone can be customized in the following way:

• Name of the mooring zone;

• Coordinates of the centre of the mooring zone (in latitude and longitude);

The "Mooring area dimensions" frame permits to define the mooring zone extension
(in metres). These zone dimensions depend on the extend of the mooring system
wanted.

9.1.2 Plane seabed definition

This frame aims to define a flat seabed in the global axis system (C, E, N) coordi-
nates:

• Water depth (in metres) at the center of the mooring zone;

• Bottom slope (in percentages). Angle of the slope at the center of the zone,
positive in the slope azimuth direction;

• Azimuth of the main slope line (in degrees) from the North axis, positive
clockwise;

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9-2 Mooring system

• Number of bands: number of bands representing the sloped seabed (only for
visualisation purposes).

Other options are available in section 10.3 for the definition of the seabed in
the vertical plane of the different mooring lines.

Figure 9.1: Site page

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.2 Vessels settings 9-3

9.2 Vessels settings

Selecting "Vessel Settings" in the tree displays the vessels’ positioning page.
Two list boxes appear on the left part of the page:
• "Out of zone vessels": contains the created vessels not positioned in the moor-
ing zone;

• "In zone vessels": contains the vessels already located in the mooring zone.
When selecting a vessel in the lists, it can be set in or out the mooring zone clicking
on or .
If a vessel is moved into the mooring zone, it appears on the right part of the page,
in a graphical way (see figure 9.2). In addition, a new frame is displayed below the
lists, concerning the selected vessel. It allows the user to:
• Select the current vessel’s loading case (among those created in the vessels
page, see section 6);

• Position of the vessel in the global axis system (C, E, N);

– Position in East (m) from the center of the mooring zone;

– Position in North (m) from the center of the mooring zone;
– Heading (deg) from the North axis, positive clockwise.

• sets the vessel’s local axis system center at the center of the moor-
ing zone and resets the vessel’s heading to 0¶ ;

• sets one of the vessel’s fairlead, turret or control

point at the center of the mooring zone without changing the vessel heading;

• “Save as initial position” allows the user to set the

current position of the vessel as its initial position, while clicking on “Set vessel

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9-4 Mooring system

to initial position” resets the current position of the vessel to the previously
saved initial position. This option is useful for calculations, as it will permit
to start the calculation from this specific initial position.

Figure 9.2: Vessel in the mooring area

Note that it is possible to drag the vessel in the mooring zone, to manually change
its position. The values of the vessel position are automatically updated to the
current vessel position.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.3 Anchors settings 9-5

9.3 Anchors settings

Selecting "Anchor Settings" in the tree displays the anchor positioning page (see fig
9.3).

Figure 9.3: Anchor page

9.3.1 Anchor creation

Anchors can be created in three different ways:

• Global position: allows the user to enter the coordinates of the anchor in the
global axis system (C, E, N), giving its East and North positions in meters;

• Relative to fairlead/turret: allows the user to enter the distance (in metres)
and azimuth (in degrees from the vessel local x-axis) of an anchor from a

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9-6 Mooring system

specific turret or fairlead. The user has to choose a vessel and fairlead in the
dedicated combo boxes and to set the anchor distance and azimuth.

• ’On fly’ position: right clicking in the mooring zone allows the user to reach a
menu (see figure 9.4). This menu contains the “Add Anchors on fly” command.
When selected, this command transforms the mouse cursor in a target shape
over the mooring zone. A left click anywhere on the mooring zone will then
create an anchor at this location. To stop adding anchors, right clicking one
more time on the mooring zone will allow the user to “Stop adding anchors”.

Figure 9.4: Menu containing the Add anchor on fly command

Please note that it is possible to drag manually the anchors in the mooring zone.
Their global location will then be automatically updated.
It is also possible to define the height of the anchor above the seabed (in metres).
After defining the anchor name, the user can click on to place the anchor
in the mooring zone. In the mean time, the anchor is displayed in the 2D display
and its name appears in the list box located on the top left of the anchor setting
page (see figure 9.5).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.3 Anchors settings 9-7

Figure 9.5: Anchor position

In case the anchor is created relatively to a fairlead/turret, a dotted line links

the anchor and the specific fairlead/turret. These lines, in addition to visually link
the anchor to its fairlead, aim to allow the user to move the total mooring system.
For example, if the user drags the vessel accross the mooring zone, the anchors will

follow. However it is possible to unlink the anchors clicking on . On the

contrary, it is possible to link them again clicking on . When the an-

chors are unlinked, they are ’installed’ on the seabed, hence their location remains
the same. As a conclusion, once the anchors set to the right location, clicking on
“Unlink all anchors” will fix them to the seabed. Note that unlinking all anchors is
necessary before starting calculations.
All anchors have to be unlinked before performing a calculation.

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9-8 Mooring system

9.3.2 Anchor modification

When selecting an anchor in the list box, all its properties are accessible. The user
just has to carry out the desired modifications and click on .
It is also possible to modify the position of many anchors in the same time. This is
done using the tool located in the “Move selected anchors” frame (see figure 9.6).
Please note that it is also possible to delete one or many anchors, selecting them

Figure 9.6: Modification of the position of many anchors

and clicking on or on the “Del” key of the keyboard.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.4 Lines settings 9-9

9.4 Lines settings

Selecting "Line settings" in the tree, the user gets to the installed lines creation page
of the mooring system design (see fig 9.7).

Figure 9.7: Line Settings Page

9.4.1 Create a mooring line

Three parameters are necessary for an installed line creation:
• Line extremities: it is possible to set them using three different methods:
– Mooring line: in the "From" box, "From an anchor" must be selected
using the radio button. Then the user has to select the right anchor in
the drop-down menu. Afterwards, in the "To" box, the right vessel and
the right fairlead or turret has to be selected.

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9-10 Mooring system

– Connection line: in case of a multi-body configuration, the second radio

button has to be selected ("From a fairlead/Turret"). The first vessel
then has to be selected, along with the correct turret or fairlead, prior to
link it to the second vessel’s turret or fairlead.
– The last method consists in directly select the extremities in the mooring
zone representation. This done right clicking close to an item of the
mooring zone (see figure 9.8). It is then possible to set it as the first
extremity of the line (“Set as link start”) and right clicking again close
to another item, set the new item as the second line extremity selecting
“Set as link end”. Once this operation done, the line extremity boxes
(“From” and “To”) on the left part of the screen are already filled with
the wanted information.

Figure 9.8: Selection of the line extremities

• Line type: In order to know the properties of the installed line, it is necessary
that the user selects a line type that has already been defined in the “LINES
STORE” (see section 7). One has to be careful that the available length
defined when creating the line type is long enough, for the line to be installed
on the current mooring system.

• Paid out length: this parameter is not compulsory in the installed line creation
as it can be calculated later on (see section 10.1.1 or 10.1). The paid out
length is the installed length of the line which has to be differenciated from
the available length defined in the “LINES STORE”. Indeed, the paid out
length is the installed length of the line (real length of the line between the
anchor and the fairlead).

In addition to these necessary parameters, options are available: name the line, de-
fine a color (see figure 9.9).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.4 Lines settings 9-11

Figure 9.9: Choose color

Once all the parameters set, the user has to click on to create the in-
stalled line. The line is then appearing both in the mooring zone and in the list box
on the top left of the page. All the input parameters are summarized in figure 9.10.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

9-12 Mooring system

Figure 9.10: Create a line between an anchor and a fairlead

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.4 Lines settings 9-13

9.4.2 Lines modification

In order to modify a line parameters, the line has to be selected in the “installed
lines” list box, the parameters modified and clicked.
It is also possible to select many lines at a time to change their paid out length
simultaneously or to delete them (see figure 9.11).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

9-14 Mooring system

Figure 9.11: Multiple line selection

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.5 Ilines generator 9-15

9.5 Ilines generator

This section is a little particular as it concerns two of the previous sections: Anchor
and line settings.
When clicking on “Line Settings” in the tree, is available
at the bottom of the page.
This button allows to generate anchors and ilines linked to a fairlead using an in-
stalled lines generator. Using this generator means that it is not necessary to create
anchors and lines separately as it will be done in the same time.
Clicking on displays a frame containing the genrator.
The way to use it is explained in figure 9.12.
In the example given in figure 9.12, the mooring zone should look as shown in

Figure 9.12: Installed lines generator

figure 9.13.

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9-16 Mooring system

Figure 9.13: Installed lines generator result

It is still necessary to “Unlink all anchors” in the “Anchor settings” page to

settle the anchors on the seabed.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.6 Fender settings 9-17

9.6 Fender settings

The last page of the mooring system setup concerns the installation of fenders.
The main parameters concerning the fenders installation are the following:

• Fender characteristic: a line type has to be created in the “LINES STORE”,

representing the fender reaction according to the distance between two vessels
or between a vessel and a dock. In Ariane7, this done by creating a tabulated
line (see section 7.3).

• First interacting body. This item can be of two kinds:

– Dockside: represented by an anchor and a direction of interaction;

– Vessel: the fenders will be fixed on a vessel that will interact with another
one.

• In case the first interacting body is a vessel, fenders location must have been
defined in the vessel definition page (see section 6.2.7);

• Second interacting body: this body will always be a vessel, interacting with
another vessel or a dock.

Figure 9.14 gives explanation on the fenders installation in the Ariane7 interface.

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9-18 Mooring system

Figure 9.14: Fender setting

-Ariane7, User Guide-

9.7 Mooring System 9-19

9.7 Mooring System

Clicking on "MOORING SYSTEM" in the tree allows the user to display the moor-
ing system main page. This page aims to be a summary of the mooring system
designed in the previous sections.

9.7.1 Text summary

The "Text summary" frame allows the user to have a text summary of the mooring
system that has just been created.

allows the user to display a summary of the mooring

system particularities in the text area (see figure 9.15):
• Name and position of the vessels: the positions of the vessels’ local axis centre
(in metres) and their azimuth (in degrees from the North axis) are given in
the global axis system (C, E, N);
• Name and paid out length of the lines: the paid out length is given in metres
(if it has been specified);
• Position of the fairleads/turrets and anchors: positions given in the global axis
system (C, E, N) in metres.
This button also allows the user to refresh the text area
after a simulation.
The data given in the summary can be modified if wanted. If the user wants

Figure 9.15: Summary of the mooring system configuration

to use this new data, he just has to click on refresh the total
project according to the summary data.

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9-20 Mooring system

9.7.2 Text or Excel summary

The interface text summary and the line characteristics can be exported in an Excel
or text file clicking on or . These
files give the following information:

• The summary giving the main particulars of the mooring system;

• The line characteristics values in a table (if it has been calculated): horizontal
and axial tensions according to horizontal distances;

• A graphical representation of the line characteristics (only in the Excel file).

9.7.3 Export Diodore line characteristics

allows the user to export the line characteristics calculated

by Ariane7 to the Principia software Diodore format.
A new window appears asking the user for the required drafts for which to calculate
the line characteristics and the number of points in the line chracteristic.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

Chapter 10

Line setup

Selecting "LINE SETUP" displays the line setup page (see figure 10.1).

Figure 10.1: Line setup page

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10-2 Line setup

10.1 Line profile

10.1.1 Line profile calculation
This page is dedicated to the lines profile calculation. First of all, one has to know
that three line parameters are interdependent:

• the horizontal distance between both ends of the line;

• the horizontal tension at one end of the line;

• the paid out length of the line.

If two of these values are known, Ariane7 can calculate the last one. This is how
the line profile is determined.
Figure 10.2 shows the frames allowing the calculation of the lines profile.
First of all, it is necessary to select the line which profile is wanted in the list of

Figure 10.2: Computation of the line profile

installed lines.
Then in the frame called "What to compute?", the user needs to select which one of
the three line parameters is to be calculated.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

10.1 Line profile 10-3

Finally in the "Parameters Values" frame, the user enters the values of the two other
parameters, in order to calculate the first one, as they are all interdependant.
In the example given in figure 10.2, it is asked to calculate the horizontal tension
at the fairlead in ’iline(1)’, hence an horizontal distance between the anchor and
the fairlead is fixed (900m) and a paid out length (1550m). Then, by clicking on
, Ariane7 calculates the horizontal tension (kN) in ’iline(1)’.
If some of the parameters are already set, the values are automatically input in
the concerned fields. However it is possible to modify them, but the line model will
be modified as well. If the user wants to observe the line profile without changing
the line model, he should click on “LINE PROFILE” in the tree: in that page, all
changes done on the line will not change the model.

10.1.2 Line profile display

Once the calculation done, the ’iline(1)’ profile appears in the graphical display (see
figure 10.3). This representation shows the seabed, the free surface and the line
profile. It also shows a graduation made of crosses, to give an idea of the scale of
the drawing. However, the default representation axis system is not orthonormal, to
set the representation to the real rate, the user has to right click in the line profile
representation and select “Real rate view” (see figure 10.4).
Please note that the segments composing the line are represented with different
thicknesses, in order to visualize their location in the line.

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10-4 Line setup

Figure 10.3: Line profile representation

Figure 10.4: Selection of the representation scale

-Ariane7, User Guide-

10.1 Line profile 10-5

Another particularity of this graphical representation is the possibility to display

a green dot on the line profile. This can be done by moving the mouse cursor above
the line profile (see figure 10.5).
This option allows the user to navigate along the line profile in order to obtain

Figure 10.5: Table giving information on the line profile

some of the line’s particularities. These particularities are shown in the table located
under the graph zone (see figure 10.5):

• Curvilinear abscissa (m): distance of the item (anchor, fairlead or dot) from
the line origin (generally the anchor);

• Horizontal distance (m): distance of the item (anchor, fairlead or dot) from
the line origin (generally the anchor);

• Water depth (m): water depth from the free surface at the item position
(positive downwards);

• Height above seabed (m): height of the item (anchor, fairlead or dot) above
the seabed at the item location (positive upwards);

• Horizontal tension (kN): horizontal tension in the line at the item position;

• Axial tension (kN): axial tension in the line at the item position;

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10-6 Line setup

• Angle (degree): angle of the line from the horizontal (anticlockwise).

Please note that when navigating on the line profile curve, the last line of the table
concerns the green dot. In this case, instead of the name of the item appears the
name of the line segment located in this portion of line.
This line profile option is not available in case of tabulated lines.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

10.1 Line profile 10-7

10.1.3 Line characteristic display

If was selected before clicking on , the line

characteristic is displayed above the line profile (see figure 10.6).
The blue vertical line in the characteristic represents the horizontal distance for

Figure 10.6: Line characteristic display

which the line profile is displayed, hence the tension in the line.
The following options are available to display the line characteristic:

• Horizontal tension at fairlead (kN);

• Axial tension at fairlead (kN);

• Horizontal tension at anchor (kN);

• Axial tension at anchor (kN).

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10-8 Line setup

These options are available right clicking in the line characteristic display as can be
seen in figure 10.7. In addition it is possible to export the line characteristic values

Figure 10.7: Line characteristic options

in a text file right clicking in the graph zone and selecting “Save characteristic".
More information of the graph zone itself is available in chapter 16.1.

10.1.4 Line profile/characteristic dialog

Another useful option is the ability to dialog between the line characteristic and the
line profile.
This can be done dragging the characteristic vertical line from an horizontal distance
to another. The line profile will then be updated accordingly, taking into account
the new horizontal distance between the anchor and the fairlead.
This is done in the following way:

• Get close to the vertical line with the cursor: the line becomes red;

• Press the <Ctrl> key and left click at the same time: the line is free to move
on the horizontal distance axis;
Doing so, the vertical line will be moved from a precalculated point of the line char-
acteristic to another one: no interpolation is performed.
However it can be seen that the line profile is updated according to the new hori-
zontal distance selected.

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10.1 Line profile 10-9

Figure 10.8: Line characteristic / profile dialog

In order to perform interpolations in the line characteristic, it is possible to press

the following keys: <Ctrl> + <Alt> + left mouse click.
When releasing the left button, Ariane7 asks the user if he wants to modify the
anchor location to the new position of the vertical blue line (see figure 10.9). If so,
the anchor horizontal distance from fairlead will be changed to the new value set by
the vertical line. If not, the anchor location will not be modified in the model and
reset to what it was prior dragging the vertical line.
Note that it is not possible to modify the anchor location in case of a line between
to vessels.

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10-10 Line setup

Figure 10.9: Modify anchor location

10.2 Buoys and sinkers

At the bottom left of the Line Profile page, four tabs can be found: buoys, sinkers,
seabed and control points.

10.2.1 Buoys
Selecting the "Buoys" tab allows the user to see a list of input fields for buoys (see
also figure 10.10):

• Buoyancy of the buoy in kN;

• Weight of the buoy in kN;

• Height of the buoy in metres;

• Pennant line length in metres;

• Buoy attach position on the pennant line in metres;

• Curvilinear coordinate of the buoy on the installed line in metres.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

10.2 Buoys and sinkers 10-11

Figure 10.10: Buoy representation

The user can define the buoy parameters, enter its curvilinear coordinate and
click on (see fig 10.11).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

10-12 Line setup

Figure 10.11: Buoys

The parameters of a buoy can be modified easily. By selecting a buoy in the list,
entering other values and clicking on , the buoyancy and the location of
the buoy can be adjusted.

10.2.2 Sinkers
The sinkers tab works in the same way as the buoys, although the input fields differ
slightly:

• Weight of the sinker in kN;

• Buoyancy of the sinker in kN;

• Height of the sinker in metres;

• Sinker’s pennant line length in metres;

• Solid Bloc: if it isn’t ticked, the sinker will react as a chain (it will lay on the
floor when it touches it). Otherwise, if ticked, the sinker will stand still when
it touches the seabed (see figure 10.12);

• Curvilinear coordinate of the sinker on the installed line in metres.

Figure 10.13 shows an example of sinker creation at the curvilinear coordinate 750m.
Finally, there are two ways of deleting buoys and sinkers. By selecting sinkers or
buoys in the list and by clicking on , the sinker or the buoy will be deleted.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

10.2 Buoys and sinkers 10-13

Figure 10.12: Solid bloc behaviour

Figure 10.13: Sinkers

Otherwise, the sinkers and the buoys can also be deleted by pressing the <Del>
button on the keyboard.

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10-14 Line setup

10.3 Seabed
In the "Seabed" page the user can define a seabed section corresponding to the
vertical plane of the line. The seabed can be defined in three different ways:

• From Site input data: uses the input data defined in the "Site" page (see
section 9.1). This option is selected by default. The seabed defined under
the selected mooring line corresponds to the one defined in the whole mooring
zone;

• Input points: allows the seabed to be drawn from points that are given by
the user. This option allows the user to define the seabed under each of the
lines with more accuracy. Each point can be defined by entering the horizon-
tal distance from the anchor and the water depth. Clicking on ,a
point of the seabed is created. A seabed can be built with many input points.
Once the points created, the user can click on above the frame to
refresh the line profile (see figure 10.14). Depending on the configuration the
user wants, the calculation of the line profile may take a few seconds;
According to the paid out length and tension in the line, the line profile

Figure 10.14: Seabed defined by Input points

will not be possible to draw in some cases.

• Input water depth/slope: the seabed is created from a given water depth at
the anchor location and slope of the seabed. This option allows the user to

-Ariane7, User Guide-

10.4 Line control points 10-15

define a different kind of water depth (at the anchor location) and seabed slope
for each of the created lines (see figure 10.15).

Figure 10.15: Seabed defined by Input water depth/slope

The seabed configuration only concerns the selected line in case the options
"Input points" and "Input water depth/slope" are selected.
In case the line profile is impossible to calculate, a message is raised to inform the
user on what is wrong, hence what is to correct.

10.4 Line control points

The last tab of the “LINE SETUP” page concern line control points.
Control points are not physical elements, but data points where some information
on the line will be available.
Control points can be located anywhere on the line, defining a curvilinear coordinate
(see figure 10.16).
In addition, the control points created appear in the table below the line profile
representation, giving some useful information on the line at their location.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

10-16 Line setup

Figure 10.16: Line control points

Once defined, the following information will be available at the line control points
at the end of the calculations:

• Horizontal tension (kN);

• Axial tension (kN);

• Position in the global axis system;

• Fatigue results;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

 Part III

Calculation

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

Chapter 11

Static analysis

Ariane7 offers different ways of dealing with static analyses. The theoretical man-
ual gives more technical details if needed.
In order to be able to perform static analyses, the mooring system has to be cor-
rectly defined (see part II).
Two main parts are available in the interface: single calculations or batch calcula-
tions (succession of single calculations).
This chapter deals with the calculation procedures, results obtained after the calcu-
lation will be treated in part IV.

11.1 Setup initial position (SINGLE)

Selecting "Setup Initial Position" in the tree displays the system initial position cal-
culation page (see fig 11.1).
Objective: Setup the global mooring system (make it coherent) according to the
vessel current position. This is done by calculating the paid out length of the lines
or anchor position, setting the lines tension. Please note that the vessel position
after calculation may not be an equilibrium position.

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11-2 Static analysis

Figure 11.1: Set up an Initial Position

In this page the initial tension in each line can be defined. But first it is necessary
to introduce the three dependent variables that are taken into account for each line:

• paid out length of the line;

• horizontal distance between anchor and fairlead;
• tension in the line.
If two of these variables are known, the third one can be calculated.
In the “Setup initial position” module, the tension has to be specified in order to
compute either the paid out length of the lines or the anchor positions.
The tension can be defined in different manners (see figure 11.2):

• Angle at fairlead (in degrees): the user has to define the angle made by the
line at fairlead from the horizontal plane.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.1 Setup initial position (SINGLE) 11-3

• Tension (in kN):

– projected in the axial direction of the line at fairlead or anchor location

– projected in the horizontal plane at fairlead or anchor location

Figure 11.2: Tension parameter type

Once the type of tension definition chosen, the user has to enter the value it should
match for each of the installed lines (see figure 11.3).
If the user wants to specify the same value for each of the lines, there is no need to

write this value in every field. Filling the first field and clicking on fills all the
following fields.
It is also possible to copy and paste the parameter values from Excel from example
using and .

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11-4 Static analysis

Figure 11.3: Tension parameter

Then the user has two choices to set the mooring system according to the initial
position of the vessels (see figure 11.1):

• the lines paid out length are calculated according to the

given tensions and the current horizontal distance between
anchors and fairleads.

• the anchor position is modified in order to match the speci-

fied tensions and the predefined lines paid out length. Note
that in that case, the paid out length of the lines is necessary.

After clicking on the button, the calculation starts and a progress bar appears in the
status bar in the bottom right corner of the Ariane7 window (see fig 11.4). This
progress bar disappears once the calculation finished.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.1 Setup initial position (SINGLE) 11-5

Figure 11.4: Adapt paid out length

After the calculation, all the project is updated: paid out length or lines tension
can be checked in the "Line Setup" (or line profile) page and in the "Line settings"
page. In addition, a window appears showing the results of the calculation. More
details on this “Analytical Results" window are available in the chapter IV.
The mooring system is now coherent for the current vessel position, lines charac-
teristics are calculated, meaning that static or time domain calculations can be
performed.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

11-6 Static analysis

11.2 Rig move (SINGLE)

Objective: The aim of such a computation is to make the vessel current position its
equilibrium position. To do so, the total mooring system will be adapted. Because
the current position of the vessels has to be stable, this module is more dedicated
to spread moored systems.
First the user will have to set the position of the vessel for which the rig move
computation needs to be done. He can left click on the vessel in the mooring zone
and hold the left mouse button in order to move the vessel to any place he wants.
However, it is more accurate to go to "Vessel Settings" (this can be done clicking
on the vessel in the mooring zone) and enter the values for the vessel position there
(see fig 11.5).
It is possible to define the line’s horizontal tension threshold expected for each

Figure 11.5: Mooving the vessel

line (value that Ariane7 will not underpass), a constant load and an environment

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.2 Rig move (SINGLE) 11-7

load. Then by clicking on , the calculation begins. It will keep the

defined position by a lines’ adaptation(see figure 11.6).
Two options are then available for the Rig Move calculation:

• Constant loads: When selecting a vessel in the list, it is possible to apply a

force (kN ) and a moment (kN.m) at vessels’ COG. These constant loads will
be taken into account during the calculation.

• Environmental loads: An environment previously created in the “ENVIRON-

MENT STORE” (see chapter 8) can be selected for the wave(s), wind and
current loads to be taken into account in the mooring system adaptation.

Please note that the lines can be set to or . If the lines are inactive,
they will not be taken into account in the calculation.
The results of the rig move computation can easily be checked by means of an equi-
librium calculation (see section 11.3) using the same environmental and constant
loads. Because the result of the rig move computation is an equilibrium position,
the vessel should not move when doing this check.

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11-8 Static analysis

Figure 11.6: Performing a Rigmove analysis

Rig move calculations can only be performed using one body, anchored in a
spread mooring configuration.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.3 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE) 11-9

11.3 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE)

Selecting "Equilibrium Analysis" under “STATIC (SINGLE)” in the tree, the user
gets to the page where static equilibrium calculations can be made (see fig 11.7).
Objective: The aim of this module is to calculate the static equilibrium position
of the mooring system, with the mooring loads only or combined to thruster loads,
external loads and environmental loads. These computations depend on the vessel
position and mean loads if any (from mooring, environmental conditions, external
loads and thrusters loads), but not on time.
As it is visible on the screen shot (see figure 11.7), Ariane7 allows the user to

Figure 11.7: Equilibrium analysis page

make equilibrium calculations using different options:

• Equilibrium position under mooring loads only (choice to use all or some of
the lines);

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11-10 Static analysis

• Equilibrium position under environmental conditions;

• Equilibrium position under the action of thrusters (thrusters can be used for
any type of constant loads);

• Equilibrium position under external loads (defined in the vessels loading case).

These different cases can be chosen one at a time or together if desired. It is also
possible to perform a simulation with no other load than the mooring system (if no
check button is selected).
The static equilibrium position calculation can be performed as batch calcula-
tions in the module called "Equilibrium Analysis" under “STATIC (BATCH)”(see
section 11.5).

11.3.1 State of the lines

The state of each line is reachable in a list: it can be switched from to
. Note that in case a line is not active, it appears as a doted line in the
graphical display.

11.3.2 Equilibrium position under mooring loads only

Objective: This type of calculation allows the user to calculate the static equilib-
rium position of the moored system considering only the mooring loads.
When none of the check buttons located in the frame "Options" are selected, press-
ing on allows the calculation to begin.
If no computation has been done before, Ariane7 computes the lines characteris-
tics, showing a progress bar at the bottom right of the screen (see fig 11.8). Line
characteristic calculation can be slow depending on the lines configuration. However
this calculation is done only once, when the mooring system has been modified or a
line state changed.
Then the static equilibrium position of the vessel is calculated according to the ac-
tive line loads.
Note that in case of a turret mooring system, no stable equilibrium position
can be found when computing an equilibrium analysis under mooring loads only.
Note that the anchors have to be unlinked from the fairleads before performing
a calculation. If it is not the case, a warning message is displayed and the calculation
is stopped.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.3 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE) 11-11

Figure 11.8: Calculation of the lines characteristics and of the static equilibrium
position under mooring loads

11.3.3 Equilibrium position under environmental conditions

Objective: This module aims to compute the equilibrium position of the moor-
ing system considering mooring loads and environmental conditions that have been
defined previously in the "Environment store". The environmental loads which Ar-
iane7 considers for this type of calculation are mean loads.

Lines state

As for the previous calculations, the lines state can be defined as or

.

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11-12 Static analysis

Environmental mean loads

The desired environment has to be chosen in the combo box, in the "Environmental
mean loads" frame. The environments located here are those created by the user
(see chapter8).
Under the combo box are check buttons concerning the use of current, wind and
waves:

• if ticked, current, wind or waves will be taken into account, provided that it
has been defined in the chosen environmental conditions;

• if not ticked, current, wind or waves will not be taken into account, even if it
has been defined in the chosen environmental condition.

Another check button is available ("with interaction Wave/Current), allowing to

take into account the interaction between waves and current in the equilibrium po-
sition calculation. This option needs wave and current environmental conditions to
be defined.
Clicking on will allow the calculation to start.
The vessel then moves to its equilibrium position taking into account the environ-
mental conditions (see fig 11.9).
Clicking on at the bottom right of the screen allows the user to
toggle the visibility of the environmental conditions headings. The arrows can be
clicked and turned to change the heading or the input fields underneath. The user
will then be able to compute calculations for different headings easily.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.3 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE) 11-13

Figure 11.9: Equilibrium position with mooring loads and environmental loads

11.3.4 Equilibrium position under the action of thrusters

Objective: Calculation of the static equilibrium position of the mooring system
under the action of thrusters and mooring loads.
In the "Equilibrium Analysis" page, selecting the "With thrusters" check button will
allow the user to perform an equilibrium analysis taking into account the predefined
thrusters. Thrusters can also be used to define constant loads (tugs, risers...).
As a reminder, the thrusters are defined in the vessel specification page (see section
5.2.3). However, it is possible to change the thrusters direction (deg), in the global
or local axis systems, and intensity (kN), as can be seen in figure 11.10.
Once the thrusters defined it is then possible to calculate the equilibrium position
of the vessel under the thrusters’ action. As can be seen in figure 11.11, the thrusters
appear as purple arrows.

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11-14 Static analysis

Figure 11.10: Thrusters modification

When clicking on , the calculation begins. Once again, if

the status of the lines has changed, the line characteristics will be computed before
the static equilibrium calculation.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.3 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE) 11-15

Figure 11.11: Equilibrium position with mooring loads and thruster action

11.3.5 Equilibrium position under the action of external

loads
External loads are constant loads depending on the position of the vessels in the
mooring zone. These loads are defined in the vessels loading cases.
Objective: Calculation of the static equilibrium position of the mooring system
under the action of position dependant constant loads and mooring loads.
In the "Equilibrium Analysis" page, selecting the "With external loads" check but-
ton will allow the user to perform an equilibrium analysis taking into account the
predefined external loads (see figure 11.12). These loads can also be used to define
constant loads (risers...).
As a reminder, external loads are defined in the vessel specification page (see section
5.3.8).

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11-16 Static analysis

Figure 11.12: Equilibrium position with mooring and external loads

Figures 11.13 and 11.14, give information on the way to apply external loads on
the vessels prior to compute static equilibrium.
Once the desired external loads applied, clicking on calcu-
lates the equilibrium position of the mooring system under the influence of position
depending constant loads. Please remind that if the line status has changed, the
line characteristics will be calculated again.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.3 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE) 11-17

Figure 11.13: Definition of single external loads to be applied for static equilibrium
calculation

Figure 11.14: Definition of interpolated external loads to be applied for static equi-
librium calculation

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11-18 Static analysis

11.4 Imposed offset (BATCH)

Objective: This module allows the user to compute the response of the mooring
system to imposed offsets, by means of a batch file.
A batch file is a file that contains the information Ariane7 needs to do a set of
calculations. The batch generator, which can be opened by clicking on the "Set
Batch" button, easily allows the user to generate this type of files.
When clicking on , a popup window appears, containing a batch file gen-
erator (see figure 11.15).
The offsets are given from the vessel position specified in the selection box at
the top of the frame:

• Current vessels position

• Equilibrium position
• Vessels saved initial position
Furthermore, the positions given in the file are the positions of the vessel local axis
system (O, x, y) origin in the global axis system (C, E, N).
First the user chooses the kind of excursion type wanted:
• Translation in a direction: this operation will allow the user to translate the
vessel in a direction, with a translation step he chooses. Indeed, some values
have to be defined:
– First value, last value, direction: from its current position, the vessel will
be translated in the defined direction. The calculation will start when
the offset is equal to the first value and end when the offset is equal to
the last one.
– Nb cases: this is the number of steps to be considered when the vessel is
submitted to an offset. For example, if this value is set to 12, there will
be 12 steps between the first offset and the last one.
• Rotation around local axis system: the same principle is applied in this case
apart from the fact that the vessel will be submitted to a rotating offset.
• Vertical translation: Minimum and maximum offset values in meters from the
current vessel draft are asked to the user.

Then the user should click on for the file to be completed.

It is possible to set many different excursions in the same file. It is also possible

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11.4 Imposed offset (BATCH) 11-19

to set its own batch file, combining the different offsets or not, simply writing in the
batch generator window.
When clicking on , the batch calculation begins. At the end, the popup
window will close by itself. The file generated can be exported (in a file with .dat
or .txt as extension) clicking on , or on the contrary a file can be loaded
clicking on . The format should be the same as the one displayed in the
batch generator.

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11-20 Static analysis

Figure 11.15: Batch generator for imposed offset

Once the calculation performed, it is possible to visualize the results on the

interface. As can be seen in figure 11.16, two frames, "Equilibrium position with
constant loads" and "Batch results" are displayed. After having selected the vessel
in the listbox, the first frame gives the initial position of the vessel (before the
calculation). The second gives information on the results:
• the case number: allows the user to navigate from one case to the other (using
the <Up arrow> and <Down arrow> keys);
• ”east, ”north, ”azimuth, ”z: give, for each case, the vessel offset from its initial
position;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.4 Imposed offset (BATCH) 11-21

• F east, F north, M z: give, for each case, the forces applied to the vessel at its
centre of gravity.

In addition to the numerical results, the user can observe on the graphical display
the evolution of his mooring system, according to the cases calculated. Furthermore
the results can be saved in different formats (see part IV).

Figure 11.16: Results of an imposed offset simulation

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11-22 Static analysis

11.5 Equilibrium Analysis (BATCH)

Two options are available in this page: create a batch file containing different con-
stant loads or different environmental conditions.

11.5.1 With constant loads

Objective: This type of computation allows the user to impose a varying external
force to the vessels COG.
To do this, the user has to generate a batch file. The batch generator, which can be
opened by clicking on , easily allows the user to generate this type of file.
At the click, a popup window appears. There are three ways to define the values,
corresponding to the three radio buttons:

• defining a rising effort in a direction: the user is invited to enter the minimum
effort value, its maximum and its direction;

• defining a rising moment: the user specifies the minimum moment value and
its maximum;

• defining a constant effort in an varying direction: the user should give a con-
stant effort and an angle interval.

After the values definition, the user should enter the number of step interval wanted
in the field "Nb cases", then clicking on will create the batch file (see fig
11.17).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.5 Equilibrium Analysis (BATCH) 11-23

Figure 11.17: Batch generator for equilibrium position calculation

Once the batch file generated, the user can click on , or generate an-
other constant load type.
The file generated can be exported (in a file with .dat or .txt as extension) clicking
on , or on the contrary a file can be loaded clicking on . The
format must be the same as the one which is displayed in the batch generator.
Each equilibrium position can be checked by entering the case number in the "With
Constant Loads" frame on the main interface. For each case, the vessel will move
towards its equilibrium position (see fig 11.18). In order to navigate through the
different cases, it is possible to press the <up arrow> and <down arrow> keys.

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11-24 Static analysis

Figure 11.18: Results of batch calculation

The results can be saved in different formats (see part IV).

11.5.2 With environmental loads

Objective: This calculation consists in loading a batch file containing environ-
mental conditions and calculate the system static equilibrium position for each one.
Using this kind of computation, the user does not need to change each environmen-
tal parameter between two simulations. The principle is to generate a batch file
containing all the different environments.
The environment batch file format is explained in Part II, in the environment
store page section.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.5 Equilibrium Analysis (BATCH) 11-25

Batch calculation options

More options are available in the interface as can be seen in figure 11.19.

Figure 11.19: Batch calculations options

• Environmental conditions options: These options aim to use or not some

of the environmental conditions, even if they have been defined in the environ-
ment batch file. Indeed, if wave conditions have been defined in the batch file
but “Use wave” not ticked, the calculation will not take the wave mean loads
into account.
Furthermore, “with interaction Wave/Current” check button allows the user
to take into account the current interaction on the wave loads.

• Thrusters options: It is possible to apply constant thruster loads for all of

the static batch calculations. The thrusters definition is done in the same way
as for the single static computation;

• external loads options: External loads are constant loads applied to the
vessels according to their position in the mooring zone. These loads have to
be defined in the vessels active loading cases. It is possible to apply these loads
on the vessels during the static batch calculations, defining which external load
is to be applied in the environment batch file (see figure 11.20).

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11-26 Static analysis

Figure 11.20: External loads definition in a batch file

Finally, clicking on allows the user to enter his batch file by the
mean of a dialog window. Once loaded, the calculation will start automatically.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

11.5 Equilibrium Analysis (BATCH) 11-27

Figure 11.21: Results of a heading analysis

After calculation, it is possible to navigate through the different cases of the batch
calculation by clicking on the "Case" input field and pressing the <up arrow> and
<down arrow> buttons of the keyboard (see figure 11.21). If the button
is clicked, the environment arrows appear, showing the environment heading for
each case. Furthermore, results can be exported in different formats (see part IV).

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11-28 Static analysis

11.6 Stiffness matrix

Objective: Calculate the stiffness matrix of the mooring system for any position.
Clicking on “STATIC (SINGLE)” or “STATIC (BATCH)” in the tree displays the
page shown in figure 11.22.
Clicking on begins the calculation of the stiffness matrix of the moor-

Figure 11.22: Stiffness matrix page

ing system, for the position shown in the mooring zone representation.
Output results are explained in part IV.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

Chapter 12

Time domain simulation

Clicking on "TIME DOMAIN (SINGLE)" or "TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)" in the

tree, will allow the user to enter the time domain simulation page.

12.1 Single time domain simulation

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12-2 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.1: Time domain simulation page

12.1.1 Lines activity

As can be seen in the screen shot (see fig 12.1), the user can define the lines which
are active or not. However Ariane7 offers a new possibility, which is to set a line
activity depending on time. The button on the right of the line names has now three
states:
• the line will be active during all the simulation;
• the line won’t be active during all the simulation;
• the line will be set by the user to be active or not, on a time basis.
If this option is selected, the popup window shown in figure 12.2
appears. In this window, the state of the line (0 for not active, 1 for active)
can be defined on a time basis. In the example given in figure 12.2, the
’iline(1)’ will be active during 5000 seconds and then inactive until the end of
the simulation.

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12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-3

Figure 12.2: Lines time series

12.1.2 Simulation parameters

Figure 12.3: Time domain simulation parameters

Simulation parameters can be set in the different fields (see figure 12.3):

• Duration of calculation in seconds;

• Time step in seconds;

• Recording start time in seconds (the results will be shown from that time
value, up to the simulation duration);

• Recording time step (s): time step for which the results will be recorded (only
affects the results display).

Calculation type
One out of three types of simulation has to be chosen:

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12-4 Time domain simulation

• Low frequency: this type of calculation allows the user to perform a two
dimensions simulation in the free surface layout (the out-of-plane movements
will be neglected). This type of simulation will use the Quadratic Transfer
Functions defined in the vessels loading cases: QTF0, QTF0+QTF1 or QTF-
C, depending on the type of slow drift calculation chosen;

• 3D Low + Wave freq.: this type of calculation allows the user to perform a
three dimensions simulation. This type of simulation uses both the Quadratic
Transfer Function and the Response Amplitude Operators defined in the ves-
sels loading case. It allows to take into account the wave frequency motions of
the vessel, along with the line tensions in the vertical direction. Some assump-
tion have to be taken into account: please refer to the Theoretical manual for
more information.

• Imposed motions: this type of calculation only uses the imposed motions de-
fined in the vessels loading cases. It will calculate the line tension according
to the specified vessels motions.

Please note that there is no strong interaction between the low frequency mo-
tions and the wave frequency one (please refer to the Theoretical Manual for more
information).

12.1.3 Environmental loads

It is then possible to select an environment that has been defined in the "Envi-
ronment store". Depending on the type of calculation, it is possible to choose in
the interface between different options for the slow drift loads calculation (see fig-
ure 12.4).

Figure 12.4: Time domain simulation environment selection

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-5

• Drift type definition:

– ’No low frequency wave loads’: if selected, the slow drift loads will not
be taken into account. However if the calculation type is set to “3D Low
+ Wave freq.”, the wave frequency motions will be taken into account;
– ’Newman approx.’: calculates the mean slow drift loads applied to the
vessel (due to the waves action on the vessels) according to the Newman
approximation (please refer to the “Theoretical manual” for more infor-
mation). Two options can be used for this calculation: Molin (used by
Ariane 6.3 software version) or Bureau Veritas formulation, which are
given in the “Theoretical manual”. This type of calculation needs the
definition of Quadratic Transfer Functions (QTF0) in the vessels loading
cases. This formulation is dedicated to systems moored in deep water,
with a soft mooring system;
– ’BV approx.’: calculates the slow drift loads applied to the vessel accord-
ing to Bureau Veritas approximation (please refer to the “Theoretical
manual” for more information). This type of calculation needs the def-
inition of Quadratic Transfer Functions (QTF0 + QTF1) in the vessels
loading cases. This approximation is more accurate than the Newman
approximation and tends towards the Complete Quadratic Transfer Func-
tion results (but with a faster time of calculation). This formulation is
dedicated to any water depth but considering soft mooring systems;
– ’QTFC Formulation’: Calculates the second order drift loads applied
to the vessel. Needs the definition of the Complete Quadratic Transfer
Functions in the vessels loading cases. As the calculation time is long
depending on the number of wave pulsations taken into account, Ariane7
proposes to consider only a part of the matrix. This is done setting
the ’dw maxi’ input field. dÊ = Êj ≠ Êi , difference between two wave
pulsations. Hence if the user specifies a ’dw maxi’, the dÊ over this
specific value will not be considered (please refer to the “Theoretical
Manual” for more information). This formulation is dedicated to any
water depth and mooring stiffness;
– ’Current / Wave interaction’: Calculation of the slow drift taking into
account the current interaction, using the Newman approximation;
– ’QTFC Cross Waves’: This option is not available yet as it is in validation
process.

• Use current loads: if ticked, the current conditions defined in the environment
selected will be taken into account;

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12-6 Time domain simulation

• Use wind loads: if ticked, the wind conditions defined in the environment
selected will be taken into account;

12.1.4 Calculation options

Calculation options are available in the TDS interface, when clicking on

(see figure 12.5).

Figure 12.5: Calculation options frame

Use thrusters
This option allows the user to use or not the thrusters during the simulation: if
not ticked, no thruster load will be used during the time domain simulation, if
ticked then a new frame appears allowing the user to set the thrusters states (see
figure 12.6).

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12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-7

Figure 12.6: Thrusters state selection

• the predefined thrusters are active during all the simulation;

• the predefined thrusters are not active during all the simulation;
• it is possible to make the thruster action vary on a time basis (see
figure 12.7): the user can define a time dependant intensity and
direction of the thruster action. Note that the thruster direction will be in
the local or global axis system according to the thruster defined in the corre-
sponding vessel page (see section 5.2.3).

Figure 12.7: Thrusters time series

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12-8 Time domain simulation

Start at the equilibrium position

Figure 12.8: Start at the equilibrium position

This option permits to perform a time domain simulation starting at the moor-
ing system static equilibrium position.
The static equilibrium calculation will be performed at the beginning of each TDS
simulation.

Start at vessels initial position (if set)

If an initial position has been defined for each of the vessels of the moored system
(see section 9.2), it is possible to start the time domain simulation at this particular
position.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-9

Figure 12.9: Start at the initial position

Note that if “Start at the equilibrium position” has been selected as well, the
starting position of the time domain simulation will be the static equilibrium posi-
tion.

External loading routine

This option allows the user to perform a time domain simulation taking into account
external forces defined in the file "f_ext.py".
This file is located in the folder "calculs/tds/f_ext.py" in the Ariane7 installation
folder.

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12-10 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.10: Use external routine

This file can be modified by the user, who can apply different external forces to
the mooring system on a time basis.
Indeed, the user will be given the vessels position and their speed according to time
and will be able to return a load for each of the vessels (in their axis system) at each
time step.
This file is written in Python. Be careful not to rename the methods as they are
used in the main Ariane7 code.
More explanations are available in the file itself.

Block vessels (low freq. motions)

This option allows the user to immobilize one or more vessels, concerning the low
frequency motions.
This is useful to see the environment loads applied to the vessels according to time
or to design a side by side mooring system (see figure 12.11).

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12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-11

Figure 12.11: Block one or more vessels

However, if the “3D Low+Wave freq” calculation type is selected, the wave
frequency motions will still be available.

Use external loads

This option allows the user to use the external loads defined in the vessels loading
cases (if specified).
When ticking the checkbutton, a new frame appears on the right hand side, enabling
the user to specify which external loads to use during the time domain simulation
(see figure 12.12).

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12-12 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.12: Specify vessels’ external loads during a time domain simulation

In addition, figures 12.13 and 12.14 give information on the way to apply the
external loads.

Figure 12.13: Definition of single external loads to be applied for TDS

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-13

Figure 12.14: Definition of interpolated external loads to be applied for TDS

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12-14 Time domain simulation

Current and wind relative speed

Figure 12.15: Current and wind relative speed

This option enables the user to take vessel’s relative speed according to fluids
into account in the time domain calculation, in the wind and current loads. If these
options are not checked, vessel’s fluid relative speed will not be included in the wind
and current loads.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-15

Fatigue calculation

Figure 12.16: Fatigue calculation

This option enables the user to calculate the fatigue of the lines occuring during
the simulation duration.
This calculation is based on Rainflow counting of the tension cycles. Please refer to
the Theoretical manual for more details.
Fatigue calculation is performed at fairlead location by default, but also at any con-
trol point that as been defined on the lines.

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12-16 Time domain simulation

Save and load parameters

The calculation options frame house two buttons allowing the user to save and load
calculation parameters and options as explained in figure 12.17.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-17

Figure 12.17: Save or load calculation parameters and options

12.1.5 Output options

allow the user to open a window containing some useful output options.
Two kind of outputs can be configured in this frame:

• Offsets: option to create customized motion results;

• Combined loads: option to create customized loads results;

Offsets
This is a very useful option as the user will be able to ask for his own results con-
cerning motions.

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12-18 Time domain simulation

Before asking for such kind of outputs, the user needs to define control points at
specific locations. Then he will be able to ask Ariane7 to calculate the offset of
this point according to a specific location among the following options:

• LF initial position: the offset will be calculated according to the low frequency
initial position of the selected point;

• Fixed point: the offset will be calculated acoording to a fixed point specified
by the user in the global axis system;

• Vessel control point: the offset will be calculated according to another control
point specified by the user;

In addition the offsets can be output in different ways:

• Projected: the offset will be projected in the global axis sytem i.e. on the
East, North and Z axis. The notation is dEast, dNorth, dZ;

• Absolute: The offset is given as the absolute distance between the two points,
azimuth of the line composed of the two points from the global North axis and
relative vertical distance between the two points;

• Absolute 3D: The offset is given as the absolute distance between the two
points, azimuth of the line composed of the two points from the global North
axis and from the horizontal plane;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-19

Figure 12.18: Offsets specification

Once the offsets configured, they will be calculated during the time domain cal-
culation and results will be given at each time step.

Combined loads

This option allows the user to create his own results combining Ariane7 default
load results.
The user has to select different Ariane7 output loads and select a reference point
for the calculation. Then Ariane7 will combine these different loads, adding them,
and will output the result at the specified reference point.
This is very useful in case of a turret mooring system for example. The user will be
able to select the line loads acting on the turret and calculate their total load at the
turret center.

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12-20 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.19: Combined loads specification

12.1.6 TDS simulation

Once all the simulation parameters defined, it is now possible to perform a time
domain simulation. This is done by clicking on (see figure 12.20).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.1 Single time domain simulation 12-21

Figure 12.20: Performing a time domain simulation

As can be seen in figure 12.20, a progress bar appears at the bottom right.
If the lines status has changed since a previous calculation, the line characteristics
are calculated before the simulation.
At the end of the calculation, the irregular wave elevation is calculated in order to
display it in the 3D view. This can take some time (a few seconds), hence if the
user wants to save some time for the simulations, he can choose not to display the
free surface elevation in the 3D view. This is done unselecting “With 3D irregular
waves” in the “Configuration -> Options -> OpenGL” menu.
The duration of a simulation depends on the following parameters:

• A ’low frequency’ calculation is faster than a ’3D low + wave freq.’ one.
It is also important to note that the calculation of the line characteristics is
longer in the 3D case as line characteristics are calculated for different fairleads
elevation;

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12-22 Time domain simulation

• The drift type definition matters a lot concerning the simulation duration (the
faster being the Newman approximation). However, the level of accuracy of
the results also depends on the type of formulation chosen, given the water
depth and the mooring system used;

• The number of regular waves and winds composing the environment spectra
(specified in the environment definition page) also affect the simulation dura-
tion;

• The number of vessels and lines;

• The number of upcoming waves.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-23

12.2 Batch time domain analyses

Clicking on “TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)” in the tree displays a new page which is
for the moment almost empty (see figure 12.21).
A batch analysis consists in a time domain analysis, with the following options:

Figure 12.21: TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)

• possiblity to run as many environmental conditions as desired in one click: the

user specifies an environment batch file containing the environmental condi-
tions to be calculated;

• possibility to choose the vessels loading case to be considered;

• possibility to choose the results to be written in the output file;

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

12-24 Time domain simulation

12.2.1 Create a batch analysis

In order to create a batch analysis, different methods are available:

• if no batch analysis has been created yet, the user may click on in the
“TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)” page;

• in the “TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)” page, click on ;

• right clicking on “TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)” and selecting “Add analysis”.

The tree is then updated with new branches as shown in figure 12.22.
In addition a new page is displayed on the right hand part of the main Ariane7

Figure 12.22: Tree update

window (see figure 12.23).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-25

Figure 12.23: New batch TDS analysis

This page is the main page of the batch analysis where the calculation will be
launched.
Furthermore, if the user clicks on “TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)” in the tree, he will
observe that a new frame appeared.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

12-26 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.24: New batch TDS analysis (bis)

The following sections will explain in more details how to use these features.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-27

12.2.2 Setup batch analysis

Figure 12.25: Setup batch analysis

As can be seen in figure 12.25, it is possible to rename the batch analysis and
enter a short description .
The tree will be updated with the new name.
Figure 12.25 shows that no environment batch file has been loaded yet as the label
says: “No batch file loaded”.
Clicking on enable the user to browse his files to select an environment
batch file.
The way to write an environment batch file is described in section 8.3.
Once the file loaded, the label is updated with the file name and the number of
environmental conditions loaded (see figure 12.26).

Figure 12.26: Environment batch file loaded

12.2.3 Batch analysis parameters

All single TDS parameters are available for batch analyses (see section 12.1).
In addition to the single TDS parameters, batch analyses give the user the possi-
bility to define the vessel loading case that will be used for the calculation. This
option is useful in case of multiple analyses, for which the loading case may differ
from one to the other.

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12-28 Time domain simulation

Loading case selection

First the user has to select a vessel in the “Vessels loading case" frame (see fig-
ure 12.27).
Once a vessel selected, a combo box appears containing its available loading cases

Figure 12.27: Vessel loading case selection

(see figure 12.28).

The user may choose the desired loading case. This vessel loading case will be the
one used for the active batch analysis.
The selected vessel loading case only concerns the active batch analysis. It isn’t
modified in the other batch analyses that have been created.

Figure 12.28: Vessel loading case selection (bis)

12.2.4 Calculation options

Batch analysis calculation options are the same as for the single TDS calculation
options (see section 12.1).
However some of the options have new capabilities due to the environment batch
aspect:

• Use external loads: If this option is selected, the user can choose between two
possibilities:

– Apply the same external loads for each of the simulations of the batch
calculation: this can be done in the same way as it was done for single
simulations (see figure 12.12).
In that case, one has to be careful to untick the checkbutton named “Take
External load from batch file”;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-29

Figure 12.29: External loads definition in a TDS batch file

– Apply different external loads for each of the simulations of the batch
calculation: this can be done specifying which external loads to use in
the batch file. The batch file format for such a calculation is specified
in figure 12.30. Note that it is not possible to interpolate between two
different external loads using this option.
In that case, one has to be careful to tick the button named “Take Ex-
ternal load from batch file”.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

12-30 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.30: External loads definition in an environment batch file

• Fatigue calculation: Fatigue analyses will be performed at the end of each

simulation of the batch calculation. These analyses are based on a Rainflow
counting and use different methods (see Theoretical manual for more details).
If this option is selected, new checkbuttons appear (see figure 12.31).
The user has two choices:

– use equivalent probabilities for each of the different sea states (see fig-
ure 12.31);
– specify different probabilities of occurence for each of the sea states in
the input batch file (see figure 12.32).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-31

Figure 12.31: Fatigue calculation options

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

12-32 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.32: Fatigue batch file definition

Note that in case an option is selected, this option will be taken into account for all
time domain simulations of the environment batch file.

12.2.5 Output options

All output options of the single TDS are available (see section 12.1).
In addition to these outputs, the user has to select the ouput format of the simulation
results file (see figure 12.33).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-33

Figure 12.33: Outputs of batch calculation

12.2.6 Batch time domain calculations

Clicking on allows the user to start the batch simulation.
Ariane7 then asks the user for the output files saving path. The number of output
files depend on the calculation options:

• in case of full simulation results, the user specifies a file name on which Ar-
iane7 will add the case number as a suffix. Be warned that as many files as
simulations performed will be created;

• in case of custom results, many files are available:

– the main tabulated result file is always created;

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12-34 Time domain simulation

– in addition to this file, if the user asked for the formated (non-tabulated)
result file, another file is created. This file has the same name than the
tabulated file with the suffix “_formated”;
– if the user asked for time series of the simulation, Ariane7 will create
one file per simulation containing the required time series. The name
given by the user will have the case number as suffix;
– if fatigue results are requested, Ariane7 will create the fatigue file con-
taining the fairlead fatigue and another file containing the line control
points fatigue (if any). This control points fatigue file has the same name
than the fairlead fatigue file with the suffix “_ctrl_pts”;
– if fatigue cycles are requested, one output file per simulation containing
the cycles. The output files will have the fatigue file name with the suffix
“_cycles_(case number)”.

Two progress bars appear at the bottom right of the screen: the left one shows the
total batch simulations progression, while the right one shows the current simulation
one.
If for some reason a particular simulation generates an error, the results of this
simulation will not be written in the output file and an error message will inform
the user that the batch simulations were completed with n error(s). The cases that
were not calculated correctly are summarized in a log file that Ariane7 proposes to
save at the end of a batch calculation.
There is no limit in the number of cases, apart from the fact that the user’s
computer would have to bear with the storage of the results (in case the wanted
outputs concern the full time series option).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-35

12.2.7 Multiple batch analyses

Ariane7 allows the user to define several independant batch analyses.
Batch analyses have to be created independantly as defined in the previous sections.
Once created, a summary is available in “TIME DOMAIN (BATCH)” page (see
figure 12.34).

Figure 12.34: Multiple batch analyses summary

Individual batch analyses operations

enables the user to browse his files to specify the environment batch
file to use for the corresponding batch analysis. This button is redondant with
located in the corresponding batch analysis page. If an input file has
already been specified, the label “Input file:” displays the relative path to the input

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

12-36 Time domain simulation

file.
enables the user to specify the output files for the selected batch analy-
sis. The output files that Ariane7 needs depend on the options specified in the cor-

responding batch analysis: and . If output files have aleady

been specified, their relative path is written besides the label “Output files:”.
enables to individually start the corresponding batch analysis. This but-
ton is redundant with located in the corresponding batch analysis page.
If clicked, two progress bars appear on the right of the start button, showing the
progress of the calculation (see figure 12.35).

Figure 12.35: Individual batch analysis calculation

Multiple batch analyses operations

enables the user to select or unselect all the analyses in one click. If
an analysis is selected and the user clicks on , the selected analysis
will be added to the calculation queue.
enables the user to launch many batch analyses calculations. The
batch analyses that are to be launched have to be selected, ticking the checkbutton
in front of their name: .
Note that if is ticked, Ariane7 will overwrite all analy-
ses output files without asking the confirmation to the user. This is useful if a great
amount of batch analyses are launch.
Progress bars appear below each of the selected analysis and show their current
calculation state (see figure 12.36). Simulations are launched one after the other,
starting from the top page one.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

12.2 Batch time domain analyses 12-37

Figure 12.36: Multiple batch analysis calculation

Note that it is possible to stop an ongoing calculation clicking on .

enable the user to stop all running (or waiting) calculations.

enables the user to import some or all batch analyses file names
in one click. The file names have to be specified in a configuration file which format
is shown in figure 12.37 and described below:
[ name of the batch analysis ]
inputFile = path/to/your/input/file.txt
batchResultsFile = path/to/your/global/batch/results/file.txt
fatigueResultsFile = path/to/your/fatigue/results/file.txt
TSResultsFile = path/to/your/TS/results/file.txt
[ and ] are compulsory.
Note that it is possible to omit some lines, but depending on your batch analysis
settings, these omitted files may be needed.
In addition, keywords followed by “=” are also compulsory if the corresponding file
is defined.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

12-38 Time domain simulation

Figure 12.37: Import batch analyses file names configuration file

enables the user to export a configuration file containing the

already created batch analyses.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

 Part IV

Outputs and results

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

 12-1

This part concerns the outputs and results Ariane7 offers once the inputs and
calculation have been performed.
First of all, it is important to note that each of the two dimensional graphical
displays and graphs located in the interface can be exported in the ’.eps’ format
(this format can be imported in Word). In addition, many possible displays are
available in the interface, as well as output files, summarizing the results of the
simulations performed.
In addition, the following chapters will treat of output file results which can be
opened automatically or not, ticking checkbuttons the menu: “Configuration ->
Options -> Main Interface” (see figure 12.38). It is also possible to choose the
default files editor (i.e. NotePad, Excel, ...) and default files extensions (i.e. txt,
xls, ..., or whatever specific extension).

Figure 12.38: Automatic display of the output files

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
Chapter 13

Static simulation results and

outputs

All static analyses performed in Ariane7 lead to results that can be of two kinds:

• Interface results

• Output files results

13.1 Static analyses results

13.1.1 Set Up Initial position and Rig Move
These types of calculation aim to set up the mooring system, adapting the paid out
length of the lines.
The lines paid out lengths, tensions and vessels positions can be checked in different
ways:

• Checking the mooring system summary (see section 9.7.1);

• Visualizing line profiles (see chapter 10.1);

• Checking the instantaneous positions and tensions outputs (see section 13.2).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-2 Static simulation results and outputs

13.1.2 Equilibrium analysis (SINGLE)

When performing a static analysis, a popup window appears at the end of the cal-
culation (see figure 13.1).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.1 Static analyses results 13-3

Figure 13.1: Static analysis results display

Vessels static data

Each line give the following information:

• Vessel name;

• Draft (in meters);

• East position (in meters) of the vessel local axis system center;

• North position (in meters) of the vessel local axis system center;

• Azimuth of the vessel (in degrees) from the North axis clockwise.

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13-4 Static simulation results and outputs

In case of more than one vessel, the same information for the other vessels will be
displayed on the following lines.

Environmental mean loads

The loads considered are wave(s), wind, Munk moment and current loads applied
to the vessels (if any environmental condition was used).
Each line give one of the previous loads action on the vessels.
These loads are projected in the global axis system: Force in East direction (kN),
Force in North direction (kN), Moment about Z-axis (kN.m). The reference point
for the loads calculation is the vessels’ centre of gravity (COG).
In addition the sum of the environmental loads is given (projection in the global
axis system).

Thruster loads
Thruster loads applied to the vessels (if any thruster was used).
Each line give the thruster action on the concerned vessel.
These loads are projected in the global axis system: Force in East direction (kN),
Force in North direction (kN), Moment about Z-axis (kN.m). The reference point
for the loads calculation is the vessels’ centre of gravity (COG).

External loads
External loads applied to the vessels (if any external loads were used).
Each line give the external load action on the concerned vessel.
These loads are projected in the global axis system: Force in East direction (kN),
Force in North direction (kN), Moment about Z-axis (kN.m). The reference point
for the loads calculation is the vessels’ centre of gravity (COG).

Installed lines data

Summary of the mooring system giving the following information:

• lines paid out lengths (in meters);

• positions of the anchors and fairleads in the global axis system, for each of the
installed lines;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.1 Static analyses results 13-5

Tensions data
Information on the installed lines tension and configuration:

• Horizontal, vertical and axial tensions in the lines at anchor and fairlead loca-
tions (in kN);

• Angle of the lines (from horizontal anticlockwise) at anchor and fairlead loca-
tion (in degrees);

• Horizontal distance between anchor and fairlead (in meters);

• Azimuth of the line from the local x-axis clockwise (in degrees);

• Azimuth of the line from the global North axis clockwise (in degrees);

Fenders data
Fender loads applied on the concerned vessels.
These loads are projected in the global axis system: Force in East direction (kN),
Force in North direction (kN), Moment about Z-axis (kN.m). The reference point
for the loads calculation is the vessels’ centre of gravity (COG).

Stiffness matrix
The mooring stiffness matrix is given for the static equilibrium position calculated
in the global axis system.
Figure 13.2 give some information on the stiffness matrix.
In order to obtain the stiffness matrix in the local axis system please refer to sec-

Figure 13.2: Stiffness matrix and external forces applied on the vessels

tion 13.3.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-6 Static simulation results and outputs

Save results in text file

As can be seen in figure 13.1, it is possible to save the current results in a text file,

clicking on .
More information will be given on this frame in section 13.2.

13.1.3 Batch static calculations

Many output choices are available for static batch calculations.

Possible outputs
In addition to the results that can be visualized in the interface (see sections 11.4
and 11.5), clicking on displays a new frame proposing new
output formats (see figure 13.3).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.1 Static analyses results 13-7

Figure 13.3: Output files configuration frame

This frame aims to select the desired outputs that the user wants in the output
files. Results are written in the files after each case calculation, so the outputs de-
sired have to chosen before starting the calculation.
The name of the output file will be asked when starting the static batch calcu-
lation.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-8 Static simulation results and outputs

Imposed offset results

The output file contains the output parameters chosen, according to the following
exceptions:

• Default values are always written in the files: the initial vessels’ local axis
systems positions (before starting the calculations) and the global mooring
response for each offset (in the global and local axis systems);

• No environmental conditions will be written in the output files as no environ-

ment is taken into consideration in the calculations;

• Vessels positions: In addition to the vessels positions, the offsets given for each
of the simulations is reminded;

• No external loads will be written in the file as they are not used in this type
of calculation.

Figures 13.4 and 13.5 give examples of the different file formats obtained after an
imposed offset batch calculation.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.1 Static analyses results 13-9

Figure 13.4: Example of output file with the “Results given as a summary” option

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-10 Static simulation results and outputs

Figure 13.5: Example of output file with the “Results given in a table” option

Batch equilibrium analysis with constant loads

The output file contains the output parameters chosen, according to the following
exceptions:

• Default values are always written in the files: the constant loads applied to
the vessels every static simulation are reminded, given in the global and local
axis systems;

• No environmental conditions will be written in the output files as no environ-

ment is taken into consideration in the calculations;

• No external loads will be written in the file as they are not used in this type
of calculation.

Batch equilibrium analysis with environmental loads

The output file contains all the output parameters chosen.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.2 Static instantaneous positions and tensions outputs 13-11

13.2 Static instantaneous positions and tensions

outputs
All of the tree branches under the name "STATIC ANALYSIS" comprise the same
graphical display, showing a two dimensions representation of the mooring system,
evolving with the simulations. This representation is very useful to check the be-
havior and the position of the vessels and the lines.
In addition to this representation of the mooring system, more precise results can
be displayed on the screen.
There is a zone in the Ariane7 interface containing buttons showing off the instan-
taneous mooring system configuration outputs. This zone, located at the top of the
graphical display of the mooring system is represented in figure 13.6.

Figure 13.6: Zone of the interface allowing the static results display

displays a popup window giving the following information on the mooring

system current configuration:

• Vessels’ main characteristics: Mean draft, trim, heel, position and azimuth
(from the North axis) of the center of the vessel axis system (O, x, y) in the
global axis system (C, E, N);

• Installed lines data: paid out length, fairlead and anchor positions in the global
axis system (C, E, N) (the z coordinate is given from the free surface layout);

• Tensions data: horizontal, vertical and axial tensions in the lines, angle of the
line at the anchor and fairlead. In addition the horizontal distance between
the anchor and the fairlead is given, along with the azimuth of the line from
the vessel local x-axis.

• Fenders data: gives the current fenders reactions on both the bodies, projected
in the global axis system (C, E, N);

• Stiffness matrix: gives the instantaneous stiffness of the mooring system in the
global axis system (see section 13.1.2).

Many options are available in this frame:

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-12 Static simulation results and outputs

Figure 13.7: Analytical summary window

• It is possible to leave the analytical summary window open and click on

to add a new page containing all the information about the
current mooring system position;

• If the user wants to save the instantaneous position in a text file, clicking on

will ask for a ’save as’ file name;

• deletes the active page of the notebook;

• deletes all the pages of the notebook;

• closes the analytical summary frame without deleting the pages. In-

deed, if is clicked again, all previous pages will be displayed, in addition

to a new page containing the current mooring system configuration outputs.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.2 Static instantaneous positions and tensions outputs 13-13

This frame is the same one as the one appearing after an equilibrium
calculation. Indeed, if computing a static equilibrium analysis, the results
will appear as a new page in this frame. However the user must be aware that when
clicking on the “Analytical summary” button, the results shown are not those of the
equilibrium position of the mooring system.

Note that it is not necessary to perform a simulation before clicking on , the

analytical frame displays the instantaneous mooring system configuration outputs.

allows the user to save the results shown in the "Analytical Summary"
window (presented above) in an excel file (see figure 13.8). Note that
if this button is clicked after an equilibrium calculation, the results presented in the
Excel file will be those corresponding to the equilibrium position.

Figure 13.8: Analytical summary excel window

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-14 Static simulation results and outputs

allows the user to display the profile of the lines in a popup window. When
clicking on the button, a popup window is raised (see figure 13.9). Once the

Figure 13.9: Popup window displayed

popup window displayed, the user has to click on one of the lines in the mooring
system graphical display: the line profile appears in the window (see figure 13.10).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.2 Static instantaneous positions and tensions outputs 13-15

Figure 13.10: Line profile display

In addition to the display of the line profile, the axial tension at the anchor and
fairlead (kN) are printed in the popup window.

gives the status of the lines state. Clicking on it allows the user
to check if the tensions in the lines are correctly set, according to a

“Lines BL ratio” of the tension specified by the user : .

This item enables the user to specify a maximum tension that the lines should not
reach (in percentage of tension compare to breaking load of the segments).
Ariane7 will check that anywhere on the line, the specified percentage of the segment

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-16 Static simulation results and outputs

breaking load is not exceeded.

Clicking on will display a message giving information on the lines sta-

tus compare to this breaking load percentage (see figure 13.11).
This message can also be displayed after static equilibrium analyses, to inform

Figure 13.11: Message warning the user that line exceeds a certain percentage of
the breaking load

the user on the lines state.

this button is specific because its application only concerns single

point moorings.

is the percentage of the line breaking load not to be exceeded.

gives visual information to the user on the area around the single turret allowing
no exceeding of the offset level in the lines defined: if the turret moves out of this
zone, one or more of the lines will exceed the tension desired. This is represented in
figure 13.12.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.2 Static instantaneous positions and tensions outputs 13-17

Figure 13.12: Zone representing the maximum offset allowable to the turret

Once the offset zone calculated and drawn in the mooring zone representation, a
popup window appears asking the user if he wants to export the coordinates of the
offset zone outline in a text file. If so, figure 13.13 shows an example of output file
giving the offset zone outline coordinates.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-18 Static simulation results and outputs

Figure 13.13: Output file giving the coordinates of the maximum offset allowable to
the turret

13.3 Stiffness Matrix

Selecting "STATIC (SINGLE)" or "STATIC (BATCH)" in the tree opens the static
analysis main page. Clicking on displays a popup window.
Figure 13.14 give more information on this window.
The stiffness matrix is provided for the current position of the mooring system.
Please refer to the “Theoretical manual” for more information on the stiffness ma-
trix.

Please note that the stiffness matrix is also available when clicking on or
after a static equilibrium calculation in the global axis system.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.4 Line profile 13-19

Figure 13.14: Stiffness matrix and external forces applied on the vessels in the local
axis system

13.4 Line profile

Selecting "LINE PROFILE" in the tree displays the line profile results page. This
page is a copy of the "LINE SETUP"¨page (see chapter 9), meant to show the re-
sults concerning the lines. If some changes are made to the lines configuration in
this page, the Ariane7 model will not be modified. To modify the model, the user
should perform the changes in the “LINE SETUP” page.
allows the user to refresh the lines configuration in the "LINE
PROFILE" page, according to the current global model.
Note that it is possible to save the line profile in a test file right clicking in the line
profile representation frame and selecting “Save Profile” (see figure 13.15).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-20 Static simulation results and outputs

Figure 13.15: Export the line profile in a text file

The text file format is explained in figure 13.16.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.5 Mooring system 13-21

Figure 13.16: Line profile in a text file

13.5 Mooring system

Some information and results are available in the “MOORING SYSTEM” page.
Please refer to section 9.7 for more information.
allows the user to export the line characteristics values
and the mooring system summary in an Excel file (see
figure 13.17).
allows the user to export the line characteristics val-
ues and the mooring system summary in a text file (see
figure 13.18).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

13-22 Static simulation results and outputs

Figure 13.17: Excel mooring system summary data file

-Ariane7, User Guide-

13.5 Mooring system 13-23

Figure 13.18: Text mooring system summary data file

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
Chapter 14

Time domain simulation results

and outputs

Selecting "Simulation results" in the tree allows the user to display the TDS results
page (see figure 14.2).
In order to display the results, the user has to perform a time domain simulation
first, as reminded with warning messages (see figure 14.1).
Once the time domain simulation performed, the results page is then available.

Figure 14.1: Message warning the user to perform a simulation first

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

14-2 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Figure 14.2: TDS results page

14.1 Simulation results interface

As can be seen in figure 14.2, three tabs are available in the TDS results page:

• Graphic results: allows the user to display graphs of the following outputs:

– vessels’ positions: origin of the vessel local axis system, control points,
center of gravity, offsets from a predefined position, fairleads position;
– line tensions: horizontal tension, axial tension and fenders reactions at
anchor, fairlead and control points location;
– combined loads created by the user;
– environmental loads: Waves, wind, current and external loads;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.1 Simulation results interface 14-3

• Animation results: allows the user to display a 3D animation of the global

mooring system;

• Fatigue results: if fatigue calculation was performed, fatigue results for the
fairlead and line control points will be available here.

According to the time domain simulation parameters (’Low frequency’ or ’Low+Wave

frequency’), the mooring system configuration (control points, fenders...) and the
environmental conditions (wave(s)+wind+current or a combination of them) chosen,
more or less outputs will be available.

14.1.1 Graphical results

Output results selection
The graphical results page is divided into two parts: list boxes on the left and graph
zones on the right.
In order to select the results to be visualized, it is necessary to click on
in the “Results management” frame. This button display a frame (see figure 14.3)
allowing the user to select the outputs to be visualized. Indeed, when selecting the
items ticking the checkbuttons, the ouput labels are displayed in the corresponding
listboxes (vessels positions, lines tensions or environment loads).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

14-4 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Figure 14.3: Results management frame

Disabled check buttons mean that the time domain simulation didn’t take
this option or parameter into account (no result is available).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.1 Simulation results interface 14-5

Vessels’ positions
The vessels’ position outputs labels are displayed in the list box in the upper left
part of the screen (see figure 14.4). From this box, it is possible to plot four main

Figure 14.4: List box allowing the user to display the vessels’ positions graphs

items of the vessel:

• Origin of the vessel local axis system: this position is given by the check
buttons called “Low frequency positions of the vessels” (in the water plane)
and “Low + high frequency positions of the vessels” (high frequency motions
of the vessels in three dimensions added to the low frequency ones). The
positions given are the positions of the local axis systems origin in the global
axis system (C, E, N). They can be summarized as follow:

– Low frequency positions:

ú “LF E pos_V esselN ame”: East position (m);
ú “LF N pos_V esselN ame”: North position (m);
ú “LF azimuth_V esselN ame”: azimuth (deg) of the vessels from the
North axis
The global Z axis origin is at the water surface
– Low + high frequency positions (given in case a ’low + wave frequency’
simulation is performed):
ú “LF+HF E pos_V esselN ame”: East position (m)
ú “LF+HF N pos_V esselN ame”: North position (m)

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14-6 Time domain simulation results and outputs

ú ”LF+HF azimuth_V esselN ame”: Azimuth (deg) of the vessel from

the North axis
ú “LF+HF heave mvt_V esselN ame”: heave motion (m)
ú “LF+HF roll mvt_V esselN ame”: roll motion (deg)
ú “LF+HF pitch mvt_V esselN ame”: pitch motion (deg)

• Control points previously defined by the user (in the vessel definition page): as
for the origin of the local axis system, two positions can be plotted: the “low
frequency” ones and the “low + high frequency” ones. However the positions
given only concern the coordinates of the control points in the global axis
system (C, E, N).
the global axis system Z origin is located at the free surface;

• Center of gravity of the vessels: the positions given are exactly similar as the
control points one, except they concern the center of gravity of the vessels:
“COG” instead of the control point name;

• Fairleads defined on the vessels: the positions given are exactly similar as
the control points one, except they concern the fairleads names instead of the
control points names;

• Offsets of a vessel control point according to a reference point (defined in the

calculation options).

When selecting one of them, the positions are displayed in the graph zone on the
top right of the page (see figure 14.5).
It is also possible to display more than one position at a time.
In addition to the graphical display of the results, statistical results are shown at
the bottom of the page (see figure 14.6).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.1 Simulation results interface 14-7

Figure 14.5: Graphical representation of the vessel positions

The statistical results give the time series mean, standard deviation, skewness,
kurtosis, maximum and minimum values.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

14-8 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Figure 14.6: Statistical results

Tension in the lines

The tensions in the lines are displayed in the graph zone located in the middle. The
method is exactly the same as for the vessels’ position, using the frame shown in
figure 14.7.
Many tension types can be plotted from this frame:
• Horizontal tensions at fairleads: These tensions are given by the check buttons
called “Low frequency horizontal tensions at fairlead” (low frequency for the

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.1 Simulation results interface 14-9

Figure 14.7: Frame allowing the user to plot the lines tensions

vessels’ motions in the water plane) and “Low + high frequency horizontal
tensions at fairlead” (Low frequency for the vessels’ motions in the water
plane + high frequency tensions for the vessels’ motions in three dimensions.
This type of tension is available when performing a ’low + wave frequency
simulation). The labels used in the listbox are:

– “Th LF LineN ame frld”

– “Th LF+HF LineN ame frld”

• Axial tensions at fairleads: the check buttons are called “Low frequency axial
tensions at fairlead” and “Low + high frequency axial tensions at fairlead”.
The labels used in the listbox are:

– “Tx LF LineN ame frld”

– “Tx LF+HF LineN ame frld”

• Horizontal tensions at anchors: These tensions are given by the check buttons
called “Low frequency horizontal tensions at anchor” (low frequency for the
vessels’ motions in the water plane) and “Low + high frequency horizontal ten-
sions at anchor” (Low frequency for the vessels’ motions in the water plane +
high frequency tensions for the vessels’ motions in three dimensions. This type
of tension is available when performing a ’low + wave frequency simulation).
The labels used in the listbox are:

– “Th LF LineN ame anch”

– “Th LF+HF LineN ame anch”

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14-10 Time domain simulation results and outputs

• Axial tensions at anchors: the check buttons are called “Low frequency axial
tensions at anchor” and “Low + high frequency axial tensions at anchor”. The
labels used in the listbox are:

– “Tx LF LineN ame anch”

– “Tx LF+HF LineN ame anch”

• Fender reactions: note that the fender reaction are only available for the low
frequency calculations. The labels used in the listbox are:

– “Feast LF F enderN ame BodyN ame”: low frequency force applied in the
global East direction on the body
– “Fnorth LF F enderN ame BodyN ame”: Low frequency force applied in
the global North direction on the body
– “Mz LF F enderN ame BodyN ame”: Low frequency moment applied
about z-axis on the body

• Horizontal tensions at line control points: These tensions are given by the
check buttons called “Low frequency horizontal tensions at the lines control
points” (low frequency for the vessels’ motions in the water plane) and “Low +
high frequency horizontal tensions at the lines control points” (Low frequency
for the vessels’ motions in the water plane + high frequency tensions for the
vessels’ motions in three dimensions. This type of tension is available when
performing a ’low + wave frequency simulation). The labels used in the listbox
are:

– “Th LF LineN ame ControlP ointN ame”

– “Th LF+HF LineN ame ControlP ointN ame”

• Axial tensions at line control points: the check buttons are called “Low fre-
quency axial tensions at the lines control points” and “Low + high frequency
axial tensions at the lines control points”. The labels used in the listbox are:

– “Tx LF LineN ame ControlP ointN ame”

– “Tx LF+HF LineN ame ControlP ointN ame”

• Combined loads low frequency and low + high frequency results. The labels
depend on the name given to the loads and the projection type.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.1 Simulation results interface 14-11

Environmental loads
The last frame of the “Simulation Results page” is called ’Environment loads’ (see
figure 14.8). This frame allows to plot in the bottom graph zone the waves, wind,
current and external loads applied to the vessels according to time. The labels used
in the listbox are:

• “EnvironmentN ame Feast V esselN ame”: Low frequency force applied in the
global East direction on the vessel

• “EnvironmentN ame Fnorth V esselN ame”: Low frequency force applied in

the global North direction on the vessel

• “EnvironmentN ame Mz V esselN ame”: Low frequency force applied about

the global Z axis on the vessel

In addition, it is possible to plot the wave elevation and wind time series from this
frame.
Note that some results are only availabe in the output files for representation

Figure 14.8: Frame allowing the user to plot the environmental loads

matters. This is the case of the simulation wave and wind spectra.

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14-12 Time domain simulation results and outputs

14.1.2 Animation results

The second tab of the simulation results page concerns the 3D animation of the
mooring system (see figure 14.9). In order to have a better view on the 3D display,

it is possible to click on on top of the animation window.

Figure 14.9: Overview of the animation results page

Visualize the lines tension

enables the user to
visualize the tension in
the lines during the simulation. Indeed, according to the axial tension in the lines
compared to their breaking load, the lines will take different colors, shown on the
scale.
It is possible to move the cursors of the scale to modify the ratios.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.1 Simulation results interface 14-13

In some cases the line profile can not be calculated (the line is drawn as a
straight line):

• No tension in the line: the line is displayed in deep blue;

• Tension to small to calculate a line profile: the line is displayed in bright blue;

• Broken line: the line is displayed in black;

• Tabulated line : the line is displayed in pink.

14.1.3 Fatigue results

In case fatigue calculation has been performed, fatigue results are available in Ari-
ane7 interface clicking on the “Fatigue Results” tab.
the results available in this tab are the following:

• Damage considering simulation duration (i.e. damage that occured during the
simulation duration, for example 3 hours). These results are given according
to Rainflow and API calculations. For more information on these calculations,
please refer to the Theoretical Manual;

• Annual damage. These results are given according to Rainflow and API cal-
culations. For more information on these calculations, please refer to the
Theoretical Manual;

• Life expectancy in years. These results are given according to Rainflow and
API calculations. For more information on these calculations, please refer to
the Theoretical Manual;

• Rainflow counting tension range (more information is available in the Theo-

retical Manual):

– Tension range per rainflow cycle (in kN) in an increasing order. In addi-
tion, the number of cycles is given;
– Tension range per residue half-cycle range in increasing order (in kN).
The number of residue half cycles is also provided.

These results are available at fairlead location by default, for each of the installed
lines (apart from tabulated lines).
However, if line control points were defined, the fatigue results are also available at
their location.

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14-14 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Low frequency calculation

In case the time domain simulation only concerned low frequency calculation, fatigue
results are a little particular as only the Rainflow results will be available. Indeed,
the API calculation doesn’t apply to this type of calculation.

Figure 14.10: Overview of the low frequency fatigue results page

Low + high frequency calculation

In case of a low + high frequency calculation, all fatigue results are available.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.2 Simulation results output files 14-15

Figure 14.11: Overview of the low + high frequency fatigue results page

14.2 Simulation results output files

In addition to the interface results display, the results can be exported as Excel or
text files. Clicking on displays a popup window (see figure 14.12).
The first frame of this window (“Possible outputs”) allows the user to select the
desired outputs that will be exported (either in Excel or text format).
The second frame enables the user to choose between different options for the files
contents.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

14-16 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Figure 14.12: TDS results output selection window

Once the wanted outputs selected in the frame ticking the check buttons, the
“Results management” window can be closed and or clicked.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.2 Simulation results output files 14-17

14.2.1 Excel files

enables the user to save the selected results in an Excel file (see
figure 14.13).
All the outputs selected will be generated in the same file. Hence if the simu-
lations are long, the generation of the file may take some time.
These Excel files contain by default the time series of the simulation, their graphs
and statistical results.
Note that it is possible to make the files open automatically once generated, ticking
“Open Excel files automatically” in the “Configuration” menu, under the “Main
Interface” tab.

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14-18 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Figure 14.13: Excel file results output

Calculating the statistical results of each time series takes time, hence if
these data is not necessary, the user should not select
in the “Results management” frame.

14.2.2 Text file

Ariane7 also allows the user to save the simulation results as a text file clicking on
(see figure 14.14). This file contains general information on the project
and the selected simulation results.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.3 Save and load results 14-19

Figure 14.14: Text file results output

14.3 Save and load results

and enable the user to save or load the simulation results.

The results are saved with the extension ’.a7r’. It is then possible to visualize old
results concerning the current project. However, the user has to note that these
buttons do not load a complete project: only the results, the simulation parameters
and the environment used will be updated.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

14-20 Time domain simulation results and outputs

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.4 Batch results 14-21

14.4 Batch results

14.4.1 a7r format results
If “Full simulation Ariane7 format” was selected, all results were stored in ’.a7r’ files.
Those files can only be opened in Ariane7.
These results can be loaded in the TDS single “Simulation results” page, clicking on
. They will then be displayed on the interface and exportable as Excel
and text files, just as the TDS SINGLE simulation results. However they can only
be displayed in the interface one at a time.
One has to be aware that such files are big (many Mo for each file depending
on the mooring system), so if the batch file contains many different cases, the user’s
computer would have to be capable of memorizing them. Please note that one file
per simulation is created.

14.4.2 Custom batch results

Depending on the outputs selected in the “Batch options” frame, the user can obtain
the following:

• Statistical results of the simulations for all the outputs desired summarized in
a text file. This file can have two formats: ’text format’ that cannot be used
in an Excel file or ’table format’ that can be copied in an Excel file (this file is
created automatically). The results are given as statistical results of the batch
time series: Mean, Maximum, minimum and standard deviation;

• Time series of the results that were selected in the “Batch options” frame,
written in one text file per simulation in a tabulated format. One has to be
aware that saving all the time series files may be memory consuming;

• Fatigue results written in one file in a tabulated format. The environment

probability of occurence is used to calculate the total life expectancy given in
the table above the case by case results.

Each simulation results are written in the files during the batch calculation, so it is
possible to open the files to check the results during the calculation.
The files should not be opened with Excel during a calculation because Excel
blocks the access to the files.
At the beginning of the batch files results, all calculation parameters, project main
particulars and outputs specification are reminded.

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14-22 Time domain simulation results and outputs

14.4.3 Interface results

After a simulation
Ariane7 can display the batch results directly in its interface, using different rep-
resentation types.
At the end of a batch calculation, clicking on “Simulation Results” displays a new
page as can be seen in figure 14.15.
As for the single TDS results, this page is divided into two parts: a result selection

Figure 14.15: Batch TDS results page

zone and a visualisation zone.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.4 Batch results 14-23

Three types of representation are available here:

• Histograms: the user has to select the output to be plotted as the x-axis of the
diagram. Ariane7 will then plot histograms of the selected output in function
of the number of occurences in the batch calculation. Figure 14.16 shows an
example of such a representation.

Figure 14.16: Histogram representation type

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14-24 Time domain simulation results and outputs

• Scatter: the user has to select the outputs to be plotted in the x-axis and
the y-axis of the graph zone. Ariane7 will then plot the batch results using
scatter dotted representation, as can be seen in figure 14.17.

Figure 14.17: Scatter representation type

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.4 Batch results 14-25

• Surface: the user has to select the outputs to be plotted in the x-axis, y-axis
and z-axis of the graph zone. Ariane7 will then plot the result selected in the
z-axis according to the results selected in the x-axis and y-axis.
It can happen that the results cannot be plotted (the values are not varying
or there is nothing to plot). If this happens, Ariane7 will warn the user
displaying the following message: “Impossible to plot...”

Figure 14.18: Surface representation type

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14-26 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Configuration of the results display

This button allows the user to display a frame showing all the
results available according to the batch calculation that has been performed (see
figure 14.19).
Results not available have disabled checkbuttons.
Each column of checkbuttons corresponds to an axis: results labels are displayed in
the corresponding axis frame.
It is possible to click on the results labels or the column labels to enable (or not)
respectively the total lines or columns.

Figure 14.19: Batch results configuration

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.4 Batch results 14-27

Filtering the results

This button allows the user to apply filters to the results display. For
example if a calculation has been performed with many wave headings, all results
will be displayed by default taking into account all the different wave headings. If
a filter is applied on the wave headings, the user will be able to display the results
for a prefered wave direction (see figure 14.20).
Once a filter created, it is still possible to modify its filtering range as can be seen

Figure 14.20: Filter creation

in figure 14.21.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

14-28 Time domain simulation results and outputs

Figure 14.21: Filter modification

In addition, figure 14.22 shows how to delete a filter.

Figure 14.22: Filter suppression

-Ariane7, User Guide-

14.4 Batch results 14-29

Refreshing the results during a TDS batch simulation

It is possible to refresh the results display during a batch calculation clicking on
.
The results in the “Simulation Results” page will be refreshed up to the last sim-
ulation written in the batch result file. It is possible to plot them while Ariane7
calculates the remaining time domain simulations.

Loading a batch results file

Ariane7 interface batch results are read from the output results file.
The header of the file contains all the information needed to load the results and
plot them. This is the reason why the header of the file should not be deleted or
modify if one wants to load the results in the interface again.
This button will ask the user to browse through his files in order to
input a TDS batch result file. If this file was not modified, TDS batch results will
be loaded in the interface.
Results that can be loaded this way may not concern the active project, it is project
independant.
Once the file loaded, all options described above will be available.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
 Part V

Tools

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

Chapter 15

Tables

Table tool is widely used in the Ariane7 interface. Its aim is to easily create input
items.

Figure 15.1: Table tool example

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

15-2 Tables

15.1 Item creation

In order to create an item, the “Points properties" frame should be filled with the
correct values and clicked.
The item then appears in the table.

15.2 Item modification

If the user wants to modify a table item defined previously, this one has to be se-
lected in the table, the input fields modified and clicked.
Otherwise it is possible to modify a value directly in the table, clicking on the value
to be changed. In order to take the modification into account, the input filed mod-
ified has to be validated clicking in another input field.

15.3 useful tools

Some other functionalities are available in the "Selection" frame.
copy of the selected table items (equivalent to <Ctrl>+c keyboard shortcut).
The items can then be pasted in another document or in the table itself.
paste the copied items in the table (equivalent to <Ctrl>+v keyboard short-
cut).
and allow the user to move an item up or down in the table, through
the other items.
delete the table selected items.

15.4 Excel linking

Data can also be entered using an Excel table. The format of the table which can
be identified by Ariane7 is shown in figure 15.2.
This only is an example and the columns number may vary depending on the input
item.
However, it is always necessary to specify the name of the item in the first column.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

15.4 Excel linking 15-3

Figure 15.2: Excel table for the fairlead definition

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
Chapter 16

Graph zones

Ariane7 interface contains many graph zones, that can be divided into two types:

• Graph zones located into the input sections of the tree;

• Graph zones located into the results parts of the tree.

16.1 Inputs graph zones

Inputs graph zone can be found in the following parts of the project:

• Loading cases definition;

• Lines store;

• Environment store;

16.1.1 Visualisation tools

Figure 16.1 represents the kind of graph zone that can be found in the input parts
of Ariane7.
The user can interact with the graphical visualisation in the following ways:

• Zoom: a zoom box can be drawn with the left mouse button on the zone of
interest or by rolling the mouse wheel;

• Translate: the user can hold the middle mouse button;

• Refresh graph zone: double click on the left mouse button or press the ’a’ key;

• Display the points showing the values: ’p’ key;

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

16-2 Graph zones

Figure 16.1: Inputs graph zone

• Display the grid showing the graph scale: ’g’ key.

Note that the exact position of the mouse cursor in the graph zone is given in the
bottom right corner of the graph window.
Furthermore, if the graph zone concerns the environmental conditions, the statisti-
cal results of the signal are given in the top right corner.

16.1.2 Export graph

It is possible to save the graph in a file by right clicking on the graph zone and
selecting " export ". The output file will have the .eps extension (Encapsulated
Postcript file, importable in Word).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

16.2 Results graph zones 16-3

16.2 Results graph zones

Figure 16.2 represents the kind of graph zone that can be found in the results part
of Ariane7.
The user can interact with this graph zone using the dedicated graph tool bar:

Figure 16.2: Results graph zone

refreshes the graph zone;

goes to the previous view;
goes to the next view;
allows the user to slide the view;
enables the user to draw a zoom box in the graph zone;
allows the user to set graph zone parameters;

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16-4 Graph zones

enables the user to export the graph zone in different formats (png, eps,
svg). Note that the exact position of the mouse cursor is given in the bottom
right corner of the graph zone.
The same kind of tool can be found for the definition of the external loads in the
vessels loading case page and for the TDS batch and MCS results.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

Chapter 17

Mooring zone

17.0.1 Interaction tools

Figure 17.1 gives a representation of the mooring zone area.
The mooring zone permits to represent the mooring system in two dimensions.
This zone is interactive:
• Zoom in and out: roll the mouse wheel or right mouse button in combination
with the <Shift> key;
• Mooving the zone: hold the middle mouse button (or the wheel one) and
slide to the point of interest. It is also possible to hold the <Ctrl> key while
pressing the right mouse button.
When the pointer is moved over the mooring zone, the current position in North
and East can be seen at the bottom right of the zone. Next to the indication of the
position the water depth, which is currently 1300 meters can be seen (see fig 17.3).
In addition, the mooring zone scale is represented with crosses, which spacing is
given by the horizontal and vertical arrows in metres (see figure 17.2).
Two buttons appear on the upper left part of the mooring zone:
allows the user to show or hide the vertical part on the left of mooring
area, to expand this mooring zone.

permits to reload the mooring area representation.

All the items located in the mooring zone are accessible with a left click
on them. This brings the user to the interface page of interest. Furthermore, the
vessels and anchors can be moved by the user, simply dragging them in the mooring
zone to a new location. The lines follow the movement.
More options are reachable with a right click on the mooring zone.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

17-2 Mooring zone

Figure 17.1: Mooring zone

Figure 17.2: Arrows showing the mooring zone scale

-Ariane7, User Guide-

 17-3

17.0.2 Toggle buttons

At the bottom of the mooring zone are eleven buttons allowing the mooring zone
items to be visible or not (see fig 17.3).

Figure 17.3: Toggle buttons, current position and water depth

Show or hide the mooring zone crosses.

Show or hide the mooring zone global axis system.

Show or hide the seabed.

Show or hide the vessels, if they have already been imported in the
mooring area.

Show or hide the " dlines " which are the dashed lines linking anchors
and fairleads during the anchors setting.

Show or hide the anchors.

Show or hide the " ilines " which are the installed lines.

Show or hide the fenders.

Show or hide the forces and the moments submitted to the vessel.

Show or hide the names of the different items located in the mooring
zone (vessels, lines, anchors, turrets, ...).

This button is a little bit different than the others because it aml-
lows the user to directly change the environmental conditions headings
(see fig 17.4). Indeed by clicking on the " compass ", the user is able to change the
current environment headings.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

17-4 Mooring zone

Figure 17.4: Headings " compass " of environmental conditions

-Ariane7, User Guide-

Chapter 18

Line profile representation

Figure 18.1 gives a representation of the line profile display.

18.0.1 interaction tools

The user can interact with the line profile representation in the following ways:
• Zoom: a zoom box can be drawn with the left mouse button on the zone of
interest or by rolling the mouse wheel;
• Translate: the user can hold the middle mouse button;
• Refresh graph zone: double click on the left mouse button or press the ’a’ key.
Note that the exact position of the mouse cursor is given in the bottom right corner
of the line profile representation. In addition, the line profile scale is given with
crosses which spacing is given by the horizontal and vertical arrows in metres (see
figure 18.2). Note that the vertical and horizontal scales are not necessary the same.
Note that it is also possible to draw the line profile to the real scale (see figure 18.3)

18.0.2 Export line profile

It is possible to export the line profile by right clicking on the graph zone. Two
options are then displayed:
• Export: the line profile representation can be exported in the .eps format
(Encapsulated Postscript, importable in Word);
• Save profile: the main particulars of the line profile can be exported in a data
file (curvilinear abscissa, horizontal distance, water depth, horizontal tension,
axial tension, tangent) (see section 12.4).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

18-2 Line profile representation

Figure 18.1: Line profile representation

Figure 18.2: Arrows showing the line profile scale

-Ariane7, User Guide-

 18-3

Figure 18.3: Real scale of line profile representation setting

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
Chapter 19

Three dimensions visualisation

19.1 Vessel inputs 3D visualisation

Figure 19.1: Vessel overview in the input pages

It is possible to interact with the vessel 3D visualisation in the following ways:

• holding mouse left click: rotation around a red cube displayed in the overview;

• mouse wheel: zoom in and out;

• holding mouse right click: translate the vessel;

• zoom cursor on the roght part of the 3D view permits to zoom in and out;

• ’m’ key: enables the user to have different meshing types;

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

19-2 Three dimensions visualisation

• ’p’ key: enables the user to set the perspective view;

• mouse right click: allows the user to show or hide some of the objects of the
3D view (free surface, vessel, fairleads, ...) and find more options.

enables the user to take a picture of the current view.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

19.2 Results 3D visualisation 19-3

19.2 Results 3D visualisation

Figure 19.2: Vessel overview in the results pages

The same options than in the previous section are available. In addition to them,
the following tools can be found:
represents the global axis system orientation. It is possible to click
on the different axis to projected the 3D view along the selected axis.
When clicking on the origin of the axis system, a global 3D overview
is set.

allows the user to start the animation.

allows the user to stop the animation.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

19-4 Three dimensions visualisation

allows the user to change the speed of the

animation.

allows the user to select a specific instant of

the animation.

represents the leg-

end for lines axial ten-
sion according to the ratio T x/BL (%). The different zone limits can be adapted
by the user just clicking and moving vertical black segments.
The environmental condition headings are shown in the animation as 3D arrows:

• Blue arrows: waves heading;

• Yellow arrow: wind heading;

• Dark blue arrow: current heading.

Shortcuts are defined

to navigate quickly into
the 3D OpenGL view:

• Animation actions:

– Start / Stop: <Space> or <Return>;

– Go to the beginning: <Home>;
– Speed up: <+>;
– Speed down: <->;
– Forward (slow): <Control-Page-Up>;
– Review (slow): <Control-Page-Down>;
– Forward (fast): <Control-Shift-Page-Up>;
– Review (fast): <Control-Shift-Page-Down>.

• Display actions:

– Zoom in: <Page-Up>;

– Zoom out: <Page-Down>;
– Move up: <Control-Up>;
– Move down: <Control-Down>;
– Move left: <Control-Left>;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

19.2 Results 3D visualisation 19-5

– Move right: <Control-Right>;

– Switch projection: <p>
– Switch mesh type: <m>.

• Show / Hide;

– Vessels: <1>;
– Ilines: <2>;
– Fixed Fenders: <3>;
– Control Points trajectory: <4>;
– Fixed Bodies: <5>;
– Environment arrows: <6>;
– Seabed: <7>;
– Free surface: <8>;
– Axes: <9>;
– Box: <0>.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

19-6 Three dimensions visualisation

19.3 3D visualization options

Some options are available in the 3D view, right clicking in the visualization (see
figure 19.3)

Figure 19.3: 3D visualisation options frame

-Ariane7, User Guide-

 Part VI

Abreviations

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

 19-3

Abbreviation name unit

A Angle of the line from horizontal anticlockwise deg
Anc, Anch. Anchor
Azim Azimuth deg
BL Breaking Load kN
BV Bureau Veritas
C Center of the mooring zone
Canvas Mooring zone
Coef coefficient
COG Center of gravity
Cx Wind or current coefficient applied along local x axis
Cy Wind or current coefficient applied along local y axis
Cz Wind or current coefficient applied about local z axis
dE, dN, dAzim, dz offsets of the vessels positions m, deg
deg degrees ¶

dir direction deg

dist Distance m
dl infinitesimal length m
dline dashed line
dphi infinitesimal „ angle rad
dtheta infinitesimal ◊ angle rad
dx infinitesimal x length m
dy infinitesimal y length m
E East
env environment
f, freq frequency Hz
F Force kN
Frld, Fairl Fairlead or turret
FPSO Floatting Production Storage Offloading Unit
Fx, Fy Local longitudinal and transversal forces kN
HF High Frequency
Horiz Horizontal
Hs Wave significant height m
Hz Hertz
iline installed line
inter. interaction
kg kilogram
kN Kilo Newton
l length of the segment m
LF Low Frequency
Lpp Length between perpendiculars m

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19-4

Abbreviation name unit

m meter
mm millimeter
M Moment kNm
Max. Maximum
Min. Minimum
Mz Moment about local z axis kNm
N North
Nb Number
Nof Number of
OCIMF Oil Companies International Marine Forum
Param Parameter
pos position
POL line paid out length m
pts points
px pixel
QTF Quadratic Transfert Function
QTF-C Complete Quadratic Transfert Function
RAO Response Amplitude Operators
res results
s second
S South
Sh Shallow (water)
std dev Standard deviation
T Tension kN
TDS Time Domain Simulation
Th Horizontal tension kN
Tline Tabulated line
TS Time Series
Tv Vertical tension kN
Tx Axial tension kN
Vc Current velocity m/s
W West
Xg, Yg, Kg position of the vessel center of gravity m
in the local axis system (except Kg from keel)
x local x axis of vessels
y local y axis of vessels
z local z axis of vessels
Z global Z axis
” relative displacement m
3D Three dimensions

Table 19.1: Current spectrum name and order of parameters.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

 Part VII

Additionnal modules

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

Appendix A

HydroStar Mooring

HydroStar Mooring includes only HydroStar for Experts modules used in or-
der to provide hydrodynamic database for symmetrical single bodies in infinite
water depth. These modules are:

• Mesh reading module: hslec;

• Mesh verification module: hschk;

• Hydrostatic properties verification module: hstat;

• Diffraction-Radiation calculation module: hsrdf ;

• Motions computation module: hsmec;

• Second Order computation: hsdft, hsomf ;

• Transfer Functions construction module: hsrao.

A.1 HydroStar Mooring page

The HydroStar Mooring page is a tab of the Loading Case page (please see
figure A.1).

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-8 HydroStar Mooring

Figure A.1: HydroStar Mooring Page

A.2 Mesh database

HydroStar Mooring includes a mesh database composed of several meshes per
vessel type. Thus, the user can select in the “Mesh from database” combo box, a
mesh which particulars and shape mainly correspond to the vessel of the mooring
system studied. This database has:
• 1 barge;
• 2 FPSOs;
• 3 Tankers;
• 1 LNG;
• 1 Bulk Carrier;

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.2 Mesh database A-9

• 2 Ships.

Figure A.2: HydroStar Mooring mesh database

The mesh particulars are given in the frame “Mesh’s Characteristics”.

The frame “Vessel’s Characteristics” corresponds to the vessel’s particulars entered
by the user in the Vessel page. These parameters can be directly modified from the
HydroStar Mooring page.

The button allows the user to refresh the hydrodynamic mesh

visualization according to the vessel’s characteristics saving the mesh files. Indeed a
tool allowing to adapt meshes has been integrated in Ariane7. This tool performs
a homothety in order to scale the basic mesh at the vessel’s characteristics. Then
the scaled mesh is cut at mean draft. This button should be used after mesh’s
modification and before launching computation.
After having saved the hydrodynamic mesh files, a new blue mesh appears in the 3D
view (please see figure A.3). This mesh corresponds to the hydrodynamic mesh that
HydroStar Mooring will take into account to compute the vessel’s hydrodynamic
database.

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-10 HydroStar Mooring

Figure A.3: Hydrodynamic mesh

A menu appears when the user right clicks on the 3D view (please see figure A.4).
This menu allows the user to show or hide the basic mesh, the hydodynamic mesh,
the free surface or the axes. It is also possible to save a screenshot, change the light
effect and the mesh visualization type. The three dimensionnal visualization tool is
described in chapter 19.
This tool can be be very useful in order to check the mesh quality (please see
figure A.5).

Figure A.4: Three dimensionnal visualization menu

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.2 Mesh database A-11

Figure A.5: Mesh visualization

Note: It is very important to check the mesh especially for small drafts. Indeed
the mesh modeler can sometimes provide irregular results at the free surface (please
see figure A.6). This kind of results can influence the hydrodynamic computation.

Figure A.6: Mesh cheking

Once the mesh scaled at the vessel’s particulars, the user can directly launch

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-12 HydroStar Mooring

a hydrostatic computation in order to check the mesh’s characteristics clicking on

. The software performs the mesh reading, the mesh checking and the
hydrostatic computation. At the end of the computation, the hydrostatic results
are displayed in a modal box (please see figure A.7).

When the user clicks on the button, the saving path to the re-
sults is asked. The software will automatically create a folder whose the name is
vessel-name_loading-name because each hydrodynamic (or hydrostatic) computa-
tion corresponds to a vessel, for a given draft. The input files are generated in this
folder. The file name entered corresponds to the output file. It is located in the
vessel-name_loading-name/rao folder. So, if the user decides to launch a new hy-
drostatic or hydrodynamic computation considering the same vessel and the same
loading case, the software asks if the folder (vessel-name_loading-name) can be over-
written. If the user chooses “Yes”, the folder will be overwritten and the previous
calculation lost. Otherwise, no calculation will be done.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.3 Calculation parameters A-13

Figure A.7: Hydrostatic results

Note: One folder created by the software corresponds to one vessel for a given
loading case. If the user wants to store further results for one vessel and one loading
case, he has to rename the folder hiself before starting the computation.

A.3 Calculation parameters

Before launching a hydrodynamics calculation, the user has to specify further pa-
rameters. They can be input using the note-book in the bottom part of the page

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-14 HydroStar Mooring

(please see figure A.8).

Figure A.8: Parameters note-book

First the wave conditions must be set up in the “Wave Conditions” tab. It
consists in specifying:

• The water depth of the site (in m);

• The type of drift loads formulation that will be used to issue the QTF matrix
(QTF or QTF-C);

• The wave circular frequencies range (in rad/s);

• The wave headings range (in deg).

In order to obtain accurate results, the user must discretize the wave circular
frequencies range and the wave headings range accurately so that the motions in-
terpolation and second-order loads interpolation during the mooring computation
in Ariane7 have a significant meaning. The wave headings range and the wave
circular frequencies range can be defined thanks to automatic generators specifying
the minimum value, the maximum one and the step of discretization (please see
figure A.9).

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.3 Calculation parameters A-15

Figure A.9: Heading generator

Then the user has to enter the mechanical parameters. They are divided into
three tabs:

• The inertia tab allowing to enter the inertia matrix (or the gyration radii
matrix) and the vessel mass;

• The stiffness tab allowing to enter the stiffness matrix (optional);

• The damping tab allowing to enter the damping matrix or the linear roll damp-
ing coefficient (optional).

First the mass and the inertia data can be entered in the “Inertia” tab. The
user can input the complete inertia matrix or the gyration radii matrix (please
see figures A.10 and A.11). Some inertia matrix terms are automatically filled in
according to the vessel mass and the COG location (calculation point at O):
S T
M 0 0 0 M.ZG ≠M.YG
W
W 0 M 0 ≠M.ZG 0 M.XG X
X
W X
W 0 0 M M.YG ≠M.XG 0 X
[M ] = W X
W
W 0 ≠M.ZG M.YG I44 I45 I46 X
X
W X
U M.ZG 0 ≠M.XG I54 I55 I56 V
≠M.YG M.XG 0 I64 I65 I66

In addition, the terms I4,j , I5,j and I6,j (j from 4 to 6) are linked to the vessel

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-16 HydroStar Mooring

gyration radii matrix according to:

Û Û
Iii Iij
Rii = Rij = sign (Iij ) (A.1)
M M

Figure A.10: Inertia matrix

Figure A.11: Gyration Radii matrix

The stiffness matrix can be entered in the “Stiffness” tab (please see figure A.12).
The damping can be entered either according to linear roll damping coefficient
(default value at 5%) or giving the complete damping matrix (please see figures A.13
and A.14) in the “Damping” tab.

The inertia matrix, the gyration radii matrix, the stiffness matrix and the damp-
ing matrix can automatically be copied and pasted in or from a spreadsheet.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.3 Calculation parameters A-17

Figure A.12: Stiffness matrix

Figure A.13: Damping data

Figure A.14: Damping data

Once these parameters input, the user can perform a complete hydrodynamic
study with HydroStar Mooring clicking in or-
der to obtain the added mass matrix, the RAO and the QTF. At the end of the

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-18 HydroStar Mooring

hydrodynamics computation, the software proposes to automatically fill in the hy-

drodynamic database from the output file.

Note: Motions and loads are computed at the COG.

A.4 Mesh adaptation

HydroStar Mooring has a mesh adaptator tool integrated. This tool could be
useful in order to adjust the hydrodynamic mesh to the wanted vessel particulars.
This tool must be used with caution.
The adaptator is located in the “Mesh Adaptation” tab and is divided in longitudinal
view and face view. One axis relates to the longitudinal view and the two others
relate to the face view. These axes allow the user to move the section nodes belonging
to a plane along one axis:

• The axis relative to the longitudinal view moves the sections in the Oyz plane
along the x-axis;

• The horizontal axis relative to the face view moves the sections in the Oxz
plane along the y-axis;

• The vertical axis relative to the face view moves the sections in the Oxy plane
along the z-axis.

Please see figure A.15 which summarizes the previous information.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.4 Mesh adaptation A-19

Figure A.15: Mesh adaptator

The axes extremities correspond to the vessel’s particulars (lpp, breadth, depth
and draft). In order to adpat the mesh, the user has to create new points on these
axes. It can be done opening the menu which appears right clicking on the axes
frames and clicking on “New” (please see figures A.16 and A.17).

Figure A.16: Mesh adaptator menu

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A-20 HydroStar Mooring

Figure A.17: New point for the mesh adaptator

The user can choose the point coordinates. The x-coordinate corresponds to the
coordinate along the axis. The y-coordinate corresponds to the distance the mesh
adaptator takes into account to move the section nodes at the coordinate x.

For example, considering the axes of the mesh adaptator displayed in figure A.18,
the mesh is modified as following:

• Considering the longitudinal view axis, the sections nodes in the plane Oyz at
the x-coordinate ≠75m are moved ≠0, 5m backwards. Between ≠150m and
≠75m the x-coordinates of the sections nodes in the plane Oyz are moved
backwards interpolating linearly between 0m and ≠0, 5m.
Between ≠75m and 75m, the x-coordinate of the sections nodes in the plane
Oyz are unchanged.
At 75m, the x-coordinates of the sections nodes in the plane Oyz are moved
0, 8m forward. Between 75m and 150m, the x-coordinates of the sections
nodes in the plane Oyz are interpolated linearly between 0, 8m and 0m.
• Considering the horizontal axis of the face view, the sections nodes in the plane
Oxz at the y-coordinate 22, 5m are moved 0, 75m to the right.
Between 20m and 22, 5m, the y-coordinate of the sections nodes in the plane
Oxz are moved to the right interpolating linearly between 0m and 0, 75m.
Between 22, 5m and 25m, the y-coordinates of the sections nodes in the plane
Oxz are moved to the right interpolating linearly between 0, 75m and 0m.

• Considering the vertical axis of the face view, the z-coordinates of the sections
nodes in the plane Oxy between 0m and 2, 5m are moved down interpolating
linearly between 0m and ≠0.5m. Between 2, 5m and 5m, the z-coordinates
of the sections nodes in the plane Oxy are moved down interpolating linearly
between ≠0.5m and 0m.
The z-coordinates of the sections nodes in the plane Oxy between 24m and
26, 5m are moved up interpolating linearly between 0m and 0.5m. Between
26, 5m and 29m, the z-coordinates of the sections nodes in the plane Oxy are
moved up interpolating linearly between 0.5m and 0m.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.4 Mesh adaptation A-21

Figure A.18: Mesh adaptator example

The points defined on the axes can be moved by hand or modified selecting the
point and clicking “Modify” in the menu. If they are modified gragging the points,
orange zones appear (please see figure A.20). They correspond to the areas in which
the point can’t be located. The points can also be deleted.

Figure A.19: Mesh adaptator bounds

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A-22 HydroStar Mooring

The mesh adaptator can be used in order to move the cells shape at the free
surface or along the vessel, and, to modify the bilge, the stem or the bow. The
vessel main characteristics (Lpp, Breadth, Depth and Draf t) are not modified.

Note: The mesh adaptation only is available after refreshing the hydrodynamic
mesh. The user can make a loop between the hydrostatic computation and the
mesh adaptation in order to reach the mesh’s particulars wanted before launching a
complete hydrodynamic calculation.

A.5 HydroStar for Experts users feature

An additionnal feature allows users who own a HydroStar for Experts license,
to import HydroStar meshes and then to perform hydrodynamic analysis con-
sidering them. This can be done easily through the software interface using the
button which appears if the required license feature is found
in the license file.
Clicking this button allows importing a mesh file in HydroStar format and
acting on, with HydroStar Mooring capabilities.

-Ariane7, User Guide-

A.5 HydroStar for Experts users feature A-23

Figure A.20: Importing a mesh in HydroStar for Experts format

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

This page intentionally contains only this sentence.
List of Figures

1 Global presentation of Ariane7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Ariane7 calculation organisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2.1 Ariane7 setup executable file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.2 Ariane7 setup language choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.3 Ariane7 setup wizard introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.4 Ariane7 setup wizard conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.5 Ariane7 icon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.6 Ariane7 splash screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.7 Ariane7 main window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3.1 Nodelock license configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

3.2 Nodelock license configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

5.1 Empty display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

5.2 Menu bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
5.3 File menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
5.4 Configuration menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5.5 Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5.6 General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5.7 Main interface tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
5.8 Mooring system tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.9 Line Setup tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.10 Calculation parameters tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.11 OpenGL tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.12 Tools menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.13 Borrow licenses for a limited duration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.14 Successful license borrowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.15 No update available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.16 New update available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.17 Help menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.18 Ariane7 About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.19 Tool bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-26 LIST OF FIGURES

5.20 Home page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

5.21 Description of the project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.22 Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.23 Status bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.24 Global axis system representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.25 Environmental conditions headings in the global axis system . . . . . 28
5.26 Local axis system representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.27 Loading cases axis system representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5.28 Relation between the local and the global axis systems . . . . . . . . 31

6.1 Vessels management page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

6.2 Tree updated when adding a vessel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
6.3 Description of the vessel overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
6.4 Mesh file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6.5 Material file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6.6 Turrets definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
6.7 Fairleads definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6.8 Fairlead generation example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6.9 Control points definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
6.10 Fenders attach points definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
6.11 Thrusters definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6.12 Loading case overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6.13 Description of the vessel loading case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
6.14 Single added mass interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6.15 Dialog window for added mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6.16 Added mass file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6.17 Added mass entered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6.18 Coupled added mass file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.19 Additional damping file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.20 RAO file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.21 RAO cartesian graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.22 RAO polar graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.23 QTF file for a Newman approximation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.24 QTF cartesian graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.25 QTF polar graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.26 QTF file for BV approximation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.27 QTF1 graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.28 File format of QTFC data (sof tware = 0) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
6.29 File format of QTFC data (sof tware = 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.30 Graphical display of QTFC data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6.31 Wind page overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

-Ariane7, User Guide-

LIST OF FIGURES A-27

6.32 Current page overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

6.33 Current coefficients entered manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
6.34 Wind coefficients or forces file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6.35 Areas exposed to wind forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6.36 Current coefficients or forces file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.37 OCIMF Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6.38 Current coefficients displayed as graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6.39 External loads input file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
6.40 External loads visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
6.41 Imposed motions file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.42 Imposed motions visualisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
6.43 Adding a loading case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
6.44 Export a vessel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.45 Import a vessel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

7.1 Lines store management page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

7.2 Lines main interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
7.3 Adding a segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
7.4 Representation of the line showing the proportion of each of the seg-
ments in the total length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
7.5 Predefined segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
7.6 Example of a segment properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7.7 Example of a multi-elastic curve definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
7.8 Example of an elastic curve definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.9 Fatigue coefficients definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
7.10 Segment options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7.11 Tabulated line page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7.12 Tabulated line graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
7.13 Fender characteristic example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
7.14 Fender characteristic example suitable for Ariane7 . . . . . . . . . . 16
7.15 Export a line store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7.16 Lines Store management and lines summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

8.1 Environment store management page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

8.2 Environment page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
8.3 Add an Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
8.4 Discretised spectrum file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
8.5 Imposed spectrum file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
8.6 Wind time series file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8.7 Jonswap spectrum representation and time series of incident wave . . 14
8.8 Environmental conditions batch file generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
8.9 Batch file for environmental conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-28 LIST OF FIGURES

8.10 Batch file for environmental conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

8.11 Batch file for discretised and imposed signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
8.12 Export an environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
8.13 Import an environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

9.1 Site page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

9.2 Vessel in the mooring area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
9.3 Anchor page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
9.4 Menu containing the Add anchor on fly command . . . . . . . . . . . 6
9.5 Anchor position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
9.6 Modification of the position of many anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
9.7 Line Settings Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
9.8 Selection of the line extremities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
9.9 Choose color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
9.10 Create a line between an anchor and a fairlead . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
9.11 Multiple line selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
9.12 Installed lines generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
9.13 Installed lines generator result . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
9.14 Fender setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
9.15 Summary of the mooring system configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

10.1 Line setup page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

10.2 Computation of the line profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
10.3 Line profile representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
10.4 Selection of the representation scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
10.5 Table giving information on the line profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
10.6 Line characteristic display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
10.7 Line characteristic options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
10.8 Line characteristic / profile dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
10.9 Modify anchor location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
10.10Buoy representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
10.11Buoys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
10.12Solid bloc behaviour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
10.13Sinkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
10.14Seabed defined by Input points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
10.15Seabed defined by Input water depth/slope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
10.16Line control points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

11.1 Set up an Initial Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

11.2 Tension parameter type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
11.3 Tension parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
11.4 Adapt paid out length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

-Ariane7, User Guide-

LIST OF FIGURES A-29

11.5 Mooving the vessel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

11.6 Performing a Rigmove analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
11.7 Equilibrium analysis page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
11.8 Calculation of the lines characteristics and of the static equilibrium
position under mooring loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
11.9 Equilibrium position with mooring loads and environmental loads . . 13
11.10Thrusters modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
11.11Equilibrium position with mooring loads and thruster action . . . . . 15
11.12Equilibrium position with mooring and external loads . . . . . . . . . 16
11.13Definition of single external loads to be applied for static equilibrium
calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
11.14Definition of interpolated external loads to be applied for static equi-
librium calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
11.15Batch generator for imposed offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
11.16Results of an imposed offset simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
11.17Batch generator for equilibrium position calculation . . . . . . . . . . 23
11.18Results of batch calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
11.19Batch calculations options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
11.20External loads definition in a batch file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
11.21Results of a heading analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
11.22Stiffness matrix page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

12.1 Time domain simulation page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

12.2 Lines time series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
12.3 Time domain simulation parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
12.4 Time domain simulation environment selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
12.5 Calculation options frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
12.6 Thrusters state selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
12.7 Thrusters time series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
12.8 Start at the equilibrium position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
12.9 Start at the initial position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
12.10Use external routine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
12.11Block one or more vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
12.12Specify vessels’ external loads during a time domain simulation . . . . 12
12.13Definition of single external loads to be applied for TDS . . . . . . . 12
12.14Definition of interpolated external loads to be applied for TDS . . . . 13
12.15Current and wind relative speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
12.16Fatigue calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
12.17Save or load calculation parameters and options . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
12.18Offsets specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
12.19Combined loads specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-30 LIST OF FIGURES

12.20Performing a time domain simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

12.21TIME DOMAIN (BATCH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
12.22Tree update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
12.23New batch TDS analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
12.24New batch TDS analysis (bis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
12.25Setup batch analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
12.26Environment batch file loaded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
12.27Vessel loading case selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
12.28Vessel loading case selection (bis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
12.29External loads definition in a TDS batch file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
12.30External loads definition in an environment batch file . . . . . . . . . 30
12.31Fatigue calculation options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
12.32Fatigue batch file definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
12.33Outputs of batch calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
12.34Multiple batch analyses summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
12.35Individual batch analysis calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
12.36Multiple batch analysis calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
12.37Import batch analyses file names configuration file . . . . . . . . . . . 38
12.38Automatic display of the output files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

13.1 Static analysis results display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

13.2 Stiffness matrix and external forces applied on the vessels . . . . . . . 5
13.3 Output files configuration frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
13.4 Example of output file with the “Results given as a summary” option 9
13.5 Example of output file with the “Results given in a table” option . . 10
13.6 Zone of the interface allowing the static results display . . . . . . . . 11
13.7 Analytical summary window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
13.8 Analytical summary excel window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
13.9 Popup window displayed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
13.10Line profile display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
13.11Message warning the user that line exceeds a certain percentage of
the breaking load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
13.12Zone representing the maximum offset allowable to the turret . . . . 17
13.13Output file giving the coordinates of the maximum offset allowable
to the turret . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
13.14Stiffness matrix and external forces applied on the vessels in the local
axis system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
13.15Export the line profile in a text file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
13.16Line profile in a text file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
13.17Excel mooring system summary data file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
13.18Text mooring system summary data file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

-Ariane7, User Guide-

LIST OF FIGURES A-31

14.1 Message warning the user to perform a simulation first . . . . . . . . 1

14.2 TDS results page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
14.3 Results management frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
14.4 List box allowing the user to display the vessels’ positions graphs . . 5
14.5 Graphical representation of the vessel positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
14.6 Statistical results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
14.7 Frame allowing the user to plot the lines tensions . . . . . . . . . . . 9
14.8 Frame allowing the user to plot the environmental loads . . . . . . . . 11
14.9 Overview of the animation results page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
14.10Overview of the low frequency fatigue results page . . . . . . . . . . . 14
14.11Overview of the low + high frequency fatigue results page . . . . . . 15
14.12TDS results output selection window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
14.13Excel file results output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
14.14Text file results output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
14.15Batch TDS results page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
14.16Histogram representation type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
14.17Scatter representation type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
14.18Surface representation type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
14.19Batch results configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
14.20Filter creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
14.21Filter modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
14.22Filter suppression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

15.1 Table tool example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

15.2 Excel table for the fairlead definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

16.1 Inputs graph zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

16.2 Results graph zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

17.1 Mooring zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

17.2 Arrows showing the mooring zone scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
17.3 Toggle buttons, current position and water depth . . . . . . . . . . . 3
17.4 Headings " compass " of environmental conditions . . . . . . . . . . . 4

18.1 Line profile representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

18.2 Arrows showing the line profile scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
18.3 Real scale of line profile representation setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

19.1 Vessel overview in the input pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

19.2 Vessel overview in the results pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
19.3 3D visualisation options frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

A.1 HydroStar Mooring Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-

A-32 LIST OF FIGURES

A.2 HydroStar Mooring mesh database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

A.3 Hydrodynamic mesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
A.4 Three dimensionnal visualization menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
A.5 Mesh visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A.6 Mesh cheking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A.7 Hydrostatic results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A.8 Parameters note-book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
A.9 Heading generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A.10 Inertia matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A.11 Gyration Radii matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A.12 Stiffness matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
A.13 Damping data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
A.14 Damping data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
A.15 Mesh adaptator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
A.16 Mesh adaptator menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
A.17 New point for the mesh adaptator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
A.18 Mesh adaptator example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A.19 Mesh adaptator bounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A.20 Importing a mesh in HydroStar for Experts format . . . . . . . . 23

-Ariane7, User Guide-

List of Tables

6.1 Single added mass definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

6.2 Coupled added mass definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6.3 Undimensional matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

8.1 Wind spectrum names and order of parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

8.2 Wave spectrum names and order of parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
8.3 Current spectrum name and order of parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . 21

19.1 Current spectrum name and order of parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . 4

-Bureau Veritas, Marine Department-