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What was New in Version 4.5.7

Bug fixes

  • Post-processing of DNV F101 Unit Check for internal over-pressure cases: Calculation of DNV F101 Unit Check for internal over-pressure cases considered zero minimum internal pressure value instead of the actual minimum internal pressure value. The actual minimum internal pressure value depends on the data input in the Internal Content sheet of Line components. This problem resulted in conservative estimates of the DNV F101 Unit Check. This problem did not occur for external over-pressure cases. The actual minimum internal pressure value is now considered instead of zero.

  • Export to Excel of multiple dynamic snapshots results: Export to Excel of multiple dynamic snapshots results might not work in some circumstances and result in unexpected failure of the GUI. This bug does not affect the export to Excel of dynamic snapshot results in case the number of snapshots is limited.

  • Post-processing of multiple dynamic snapshots results in batch mode: Post-processing of multiple dynamic snapshots results does not perform correctly when run using batch post-processing instruction files. The content of the batch post-processing file is correct but is misinterpreted in case several dynamic snapshots are asked for (e.g. when asking for the dynamic tension along a line at several instantaneous times during the simulation). This problem only occurs in case several dynamic snapshots were asked for in the same set of batch instructions (i.e. between the [BEGIN_GRAPH] and [END_GRAPH] keywords).

  • Post-processing of internal pressure for quasi-static analyses: Internal pressure results reported upon post-processing of quasi-static analyses may not be interpolated correctly in the event the internal pressure profile was only setup in the model for the initial and final quasi-static steps. The internal pressure profiles reported through post-processing were however correct in case the internal pressure profile was setup in the model for additional quasi-static steps. This problem is limited to line components featuring variable internal pressure profiles during the quasi-static phase of the analysis.

  • Export of Results Statistics to Excel: The names of model components reported in the Excel files detailing results statistics may, under certain circumstances, be incorrect. This problem does not affect the values of results statistics and is limited to the name of the components.

  • Post-processing of shear force from frequency-domain analyses: The shear force that is reported along flexible pipe elements was not processed correctly for dynamic analyses in the frequency-domain. This problem does not impact the dynamic shear force processed for dynamic analyses in the time-domain.

  • Clearance Check outputs: The clearance check module reports the minimum clearance between two lines, together with the location of the minimum clearance on both lines (i.e. curved abscissa along both lines yielding the minimum clearance). The location of the minimum clearance that is reported for the second line is incorrect. This problem does not impact the location of the minimum clearance that is reported for the first line, which is correct.

Improvements

  • Compatibility with Microsoft Office Excel 2013: Previous versions of DEEPLINES could not work with Microsoft Office Excel 2013 to export results and plots. Compatibility with Excel 2013 is now ensured.

  • Post-processing of Von Mises stress: The accuracy of Von Mises stress reported along lines has been improved. All Von Mises stress results now use common equations with no approximation.

  • Decimal places in length of segments: The number of decimal places used to define the length of segments in the line was limited to 3 which proved to be insufficient for some cases (e.g. spools featuring many segments). The number of decimal places has been increased to avoid spurious axial stress due to rounding errors on the length of the segments.

  • Display of dynamic animations with very short wave periods: Display of dynamic animations in DSS files has been optimized and is now able to handle cases with very short wave periods (e.g. less than 0.1s). The display did not perform correctly previously for such short wave periods.

What was New in Version 4.5.6

Bug fixes

  • Post-processing of torsion along Rigid Pipe segments: The torsion moment was not correctly post-processed for lines defined using Rigid Pipe segment types. The torsion strain and resulting stress in the homogeneous cross-section are however correct.

  • Post-processing of fatigue damage with multi-directional scatter diagrams: Derivation of the fatigue damage based on the spectral approach was not made correctly in case the multi-directional option was activated. The multi- directional option allows setting up combinations of sea-states given independent directions. The damage that was reported was set to zero in case the significant wave height of the first sea-state was zero.

  • Post-processing of fatigue damage including the Goodman correction: The Goodman correction allows taking the effect of the mean stress into account when deriving the fatigue damage through S-N curves. The last release of DeepLines introduced an error due to change in internal stress units. The stress including the Goodman correction was magnified by a 1e6 factor, yielding erroneous fatigue damage values. This problem however did not impact the normal fatigue damage that does not account for the effect of mean stress.

  • Post-processing of RAO within non-linear flexible pipe: Post-processing of loads RAO (e.g. tension RAO) was not possible along lines segments featuring a non-linear bending stiffness (e.g. unbounded flexible pipe).

  • Export of spectral results to Excel: Export to Excel of spectral results stored into DSS simulation files was not made correctly. Data reported in the Excel file referred to time-series of the required result instead of the spectrum.

  • Display of results statistics for XY plots: Display of results statistics related to XY plots was not made correctly in the Statistics tab. The first row in the table used to be removed.

  • Selection of curved abscissa ranges in the Zones Study: The Zones Study post-processing module sometimes reported results related to elements outside of the desired zone. This happened in case the size of the beam elements located next to the zone was smaller than the size of the beam elements inside the zone.

All these bugs are fixed in Version 4.5.6.

What was New in Version 4.5.5

Bug fixes

  • Display of Rigid Bodies connected to Floaters: Orientation of Rigid Bodies connected to Floaters with a clamp was not correct in the 3D View window. The displays was solely based on the azimuth angle specified in the Fairlead / hang-off points and did not account for the heading of the Floater. This problem did not affect the actual coordinates of nodes in the calculation and is limited to the 3D view window. This problem has been corrected so that the displayed orientation is now based on Floater orientation combined with the azimuth angle.

  • Unit used to report frequencies in MDS files: MDS files may be created upon completion of modal analysis. These files include several blocks of data among which the frequencies of the natural modes. Frequencies were reported in "Hz" which is not consistent with the expected content of MDS files for external software like SHEAR7. The unit for frequencies reported in the MDS files has been corrected to "radians/s" instead of "Hz".

  • Copy/Paste of Buoy Components:Copy/Paste of Buoys was not made correctly in case the connections of the duplicated object were left free. XYZ coordinates of the duplicated Buoy were automatically set to (0,0,0) and did not accounted for the translation or rotation asked for from the Copy/Paste form.

  • Vessel offset applied to fairleads / hang-off points: When using the Environment Sets, vessel offsets may apply on Fairleads/Hang-off points in addition to the COG. This however sometimes failed leading to erroneous vessel offsets being considered in the analysis.

  • Handling of multiple flexjoints with damping: Damping coefficients associated to flexjoints were not handled properly by the FE engine in case the simulation included several of them. Handling of damping was however made correctly in case a single flexjoint was included in the simulation.

  • SCF not accounted for in fatigue analysis of anchor legs with S-N curves: SCF defined from the Line Type were not accounted for correctly when running fatigue post-processing of anchor legs based on S-N curves which is applicable for out-of-plane fatigue assessment. SCF had to be input in the Line Section tab-sheet instead to get correct results. SCF was however correctly taken into account for homogeneous pipe (e.g. steel pipe) and bounded flexible hoses.

  • XY plots: Asking for XY plots from the DSS results file might on some instances produce error messages so that the requested XY plot was not processed. XY plots are now available for all types of model components.

  • Clearance Check limited to Whole Line clearance assessment: The clearance check form allows post-processing of clearance between 2 lines. Curved positions input in the clearance check form were not correctly accounted for so that the clearance was always reported between the whole lines. Clearance may now be requested along specific sections of lines.

  • Edit View parameters form: The Edit view parameters form did not displayed correctly as the form was too small. The form has been enlarged to allow direct access to all view parameters.

  • Update of analyses names in the Predefined Results > Clash Check tab-sheet: In the Predefined Results associated to Analyses Sets, the names of the analyses were not updated in the Clash Check tab-sheet in case the name of the Analyses Set was modified.

  • Deleting cases matrices from the Predefined Results > Clash Check tab-sheet: In the Predefined Results form, the last cases matrix of the Clash Check tab-sheet was removed instead of the selected matrix when pressing the Delete Matrix button.

Improvements

  • Identification of functional loads for DNV code checks: Functional loads required to post-process DNV code checks based on OS-F201 and OS-F101 may now be identified from the static solution at a prescribed quasi-static step. Step 0 only was available in earlier versions to identify functional loads.

  • Analysis status checking tool: A tool may be used to get the status (e.g. completed or failed) of series of analyses into an Excel file. This tool is available from the Tools menu. The executable file for this tool was however not included in the previous Setup packages and could only be obtained from the software support team. The executable file is now included in the Setup package.

  • Optimized Rainflow fatigue damage counting: Post-processing of fatigue damage could take long when multiples locations along lines were asked for. Post-processing routines have been optimized so as speed up the process for multiple locations.

  • Compatibility with Windows 7 Aero Themes: Windows 7 Aero themes had to be disabled since these themes led to various interface display issues. These problems have been fixed and Aero themes may now be activated.

  • Length of analysis names and external text files: The allowable length of characters strings used for analyses names and external text files to be read by the FE engine has been increased to 512.

  • Improvements to analysis restart feature: Routines used by the FE engine within analysis restart have been improved to better handle initial velocity and initialization of elements orientation through the cable interface pre-analysis step.

  • Improvements to analysis restart feature: Internal loads associated to bar/beam elements fully embedded into Rigid Bodies (i.e. defined through external text file) were taken into account when checking the convergence despites these bar/beam elements are considered as a solid body. This may have altered convergence in case some of the bar/beam elements experience large internal loads due to inaccuracy in initial length with respect to the distance between the end nodes. Internal loads associated to bar/beam elements fully embedded into Rigid Bodies are now disregarded when checking convergence.

  • Handling of liquid ballast loads components: The algorithm used to handle liquid ballast loads has been simplified to speed up the analysis in case the filling ratio equals 100%. This however does not result in any change to the results.

What was New in Version 4.5.4

Bug fixes

  • Handling of data in Wave Sets and Environment Sets: Validation of data input in Wave Sets and Environment Sets using Enter key might close the data form when running with Windows 7 64 bits.

  • Bending stress results for quadratic elements: Post-processing of stress results including contribution from bending loads was not reported correctly for quadratic beam elements, due to incorrect reporting of curved abscissas along lines. This problem however only affected quadratic beam elements.

  • Quick data access: Some of the Calculation Parameters data items displayed in the Quick data access form were incorrectly converted when switching to the Calculation Parameters form available from the analyses.

  • Handling of large DSS files: The GUI might fail opening large DSS files when running with Windows 7 64 bits in case non converged solutions were stored.

  • Multiple post-processing requests: Multiple selection of model components from the post-processing forms might fail when running with Windows 7 64 bits.

  • AVI animation files: Selection of initial and final frames to be included in the AVI animation files did not worked properly, the complete simulation being included in the AVI animation file.

  • Post-processing of tension for winch lines: Post-processing of tension in winch lines did not worked in case the payout speed was defined through an external file referred to through the specific working directory ($CUR_PATH characters string). Post-processing was however correct in case the CUR_PATH characters string was not used in the filename.

  • Internal fluid dynamic variation: Data input in the tables used to specify internal fluid variation profiles as a function of time and curved position along the line may, on some instances, be mismatched and saved incorrectly.

  • Post-processing of internal pressure: The internal pressure reported through post-processing did not take into account the changes in internal fluid which occurred during the quasi-static analysis (as defined through the *TEMPLINE keyword).

  • Connection of Rigid Bodies: Consecutive connections of Rigid Bodies were not cascaded correctly in case several Rigid Bodies were connected together. This might result in erroneous orientation of the last Rigid Body.

Improvements

  • Reaction forces RAO: Although reaction forces could be extracted for any dynamic analysis, post-processing of reaction forces RAO was not available from the RAO post-processing tab-sheet.

  • Checking analyses status: A new item labeled Check analyses status has been added in the Tools menu. This tools performs a screening of all DAY files included in the various analyses folders located aside the model file to get the status of the analyses. Selecting this item will return the status of all analyses included in the model file, i.e. whether the analysis is completed or failed.

  • Second order wave loads: Calculation of mean drift force based on Newman formula has been improved to match with the approach adopted in DIODORE software.

  • Dynamic currents: The number of steps used to define variable currents in time was limited to 20. This limit has been removed.

What was New in Version 4.5.3

Bug fixes

  • Vessel motion: Vessel motion derived through RAO was miscalculated when the heading of the vessel was non-zero. This resulted in erroneous motion at the hang-off points and affected the global response of any riser system.

  • Zones Study: Copy/paste of zones data defined along the lines did not worked properly.

  • Post-processing of strain: Post-processing of strain in homogeneous pipes might return erroneous values under certain circumstances. This problem however did not affect stress results that were reported correctly. Strain results have been corrected accordingly.

Improvements

  • Concentrated buoyancy modules loadings: Setup of Loadings based on concentrated buoyancy modules types has been improved. The concentrated buoyancy modules types property to be considered within the Loading component may now be setup different from the default data. This facilitates definition of multiple loads distributed over a line.

  • Working directory: The working directory defined through the Settings menu is now checked when the model is opened. A warning message displays in case the working directory does not match with the current directory used to save your model. This enables ensuring that the filenames and paths used in your batch queue files is properly setup.

What was New in Version 4.5.2

Bug fixes

  • Multi-threading: Counting of license keys could be made incorrectly on some instances. License keys were not properly released in case the analysis or post-processing task failed. Fixing this bug requires that the license file is updated. Upgraded license files are provided with Version 4.5.2.

  • Variable time-step: Using the variable time-step might lead to spurious peaks in the tension and acceleration results. These peaks occurred in case the time-step was reduced.

  • Export of RAO results to Excel: RAO results could not be exported to Excel.

  • Environment Set: The contents of the Main swell sheet was not saved correctly unless the user click the Save button.

  • Analyses Set: Several Environments Sets might display in the Model Browser within the same Analyses Set. This problem could only be observed further to copy/paste of Analyses Sets and did not affected the results.

  • Display of waves in the 3D View window: The sea surface did not display properly in case a Wave Set including several wave directions was used. The wave direction always seemed to be taken as being the heading as defined in the "Single wave heading" data field. This bug however did not affect the results.

  • Post-processing of RAO: RAO of absolute acceleration, absolute velocity, and absolute motion recorded at nodes were process incorrectly.

  • Spectral curves: Spectral curves could not be defined within the Predefined results. Selecting the Spectral curves sheet from the Predefined results closed the user interface.

  • Batch processing: The Abort button was not enabled anymore once Pause had been activated. It was therefore impossible to abort jobs while they were being paused.

  • Large DSS files: Some DSS simulation files with duration in excess of 10800s could not be opened directly from the interface. These files could only be opened at the second attempt.

  • Exporting results statistics: The contents of the Excel spreadsheet produced by the interface when generating Results statistics associated with a complete Analyses Set was not sorted correctly in case the results were produced using post-processing script files.

  • Ballasts / Thermal loadings & multi-threading: Ballast properties and thermal loadings data are defined though text files which are generated by the interface. These text files could not be opened by several process at the same time making multi-threaded analysis impossible in these cases.

  • Mooring stiffness: The mooring stiffness matrix stored in HDB files was not properly taken into account in coupled analyses, resulting in vessels drifting from their nominal position. This problem only arise within coupled analyses in case the mooring lines were not modelled and replaced with the equivalent mooring stiffness.

Improvements

  • Editing LOG files: The interface now echoes the Version number in the LOG files.

  • Wave spectrum discretisation method: Individual wave components are now determined from the wave spectrum based on constant period intervals. Constant frequency intervals were used in the previous Versions. This change avoids getting too many wave components at small periods and ensures that the number of wave components around the peak period is properly set. Irregular wave time-series calculated using the new discretisation method are therefore different from those obtained with the previous Versions.

  • Non-linear bend stiffener: Non-linear bend stiffeners can now be used together with flexible pipe non-linear bending behavior.

What was New in Version 4.5

User Interface

  • Batch Processing form: The batch processing form is a new facility which enables advanced automation of analyses and post-processing tasks. Within this form, you may setup a list of batch jobs which are to be run and further monitor the status of these jobs while they are running. The batch processing form may be used to setup the analysis files, run static and dynamic analyses, post-process any type of results including fatigue damage, export these results to Excel spreadsheets, and run any Windows command through script files.

  • Multi-threading: Most modern processors have several logical cores. Multi-threaded execution of analyses or post-processing tasks is now enabled through the Batch Processing facility. Claims over network licenses have been improved to allow up to 4 tasks being run concurrently with a single license.

  • Clearance check analysis facility: The lines clearance check form is a new tool which may be used to derive the minimum clearance between several lines for series of static and dynamic analyses. This tool enables efficient definition of interference load cases to be assessed and provides clear outputs in tabular forms. Clearance analyses may be run either in interactive mode or in batch mode using the Batch Processing facility.

  • Compatible with Windows 7: Although the previous version of the FE engine was already compatible with Windows 7, the previous versions of the user interface could not be run correctly with Windows 7. This Version now fully supports Windows 7 Pro 32 and 64 bits. This Version also offers display based on Windows 7 and Windows XP styles depending on your operating system.

  • Display of Quick Data Access form: Displaying calculation parameters for a range of analyses within the Quick Data Access form required that you selected first the Analyses Set from the Model Browser. The contents of the form was left empty otherwise. We have added a new data field in the Quick Data Access form which enables selecting the Analyses Set for display directly from the form.

  • Display of connections in the Quick Data Access: Connection of all lines end nodes may now be displayed in the same table within the Quick Data Access form. Different lines previously displayed in separate tables. Getting all connections in the same table further eases model verification and setup of connections.

  • Display of contact properties in the Quick Data Access: Contact properties associated with all the analyses may now be displayed in the same table within the Quick Data Access form. Contact properties associated with different analyses previously displayed in separate tables.

  • CTRL+A keys: The "CTRL+A" keys are now available within every table which eases selection of complete data field and hence make copy/paste much straightforward.

Lines

  • Number of segments: The number of segments along a section of line may now be directly input into the Line data form. This improves generation of multiple segments which does not require anymore clicking several times on the "Add Segment" button.

Environments

  • Currents with variable heading: Environment Set components now feature current profiles with variable heading over the water column. Only current profiles with constant heading were previously available within Environment Sets. This improvement is expected to answer analysis requirements for riser systems deployed offshore Brazil.

Other Model Components

  • Vessel motion: A new motion type labelled None has been included in the Motion tab which enables specifying that no vessel motion is to be considered.

  • Vessel drag loads: Vessel drag properties that are generally used to derive current loads may now be based either on the absolute current velocity, low frequency vessel and current relative velocity, LF + WF vessel and current relative velocity, or LF + WF vessel and current plus wave velocity. A new frame has been added in the Motion tab for coupled motion response analysis to select which option is to be considered.

Post-processing

  • DNV code checks: The material strength is normally specified at room temperature. Possible influence on the material from the temperature needs to be considered at temperatures above room temperature. Temperature de-rating factor was however available for yield strength only. Temperature de-rating factor for the tensile strength has now been included in DNV code checks post-processing parameters.

  • Improvements to post-processing for bounded flexible pipe: Post-processing of strain and stress in bounded flexible pipe components (the lines defined using Hose segment types) has been dramatically improved and is now much faster than before. This typically reduces the time required to complete a detailed fatigue analysis of bounded flexible riser by a factor of 50.

  • New wave results variables: New types of results are available within standard post-processing form, which provide the vertical position, velocity and acceleration of any model component with respect to the instantaneous sea-level. Relative position allows identifying whether a component is being submerged by the wave. Relative acceleration and velocity are also expected to be helpful to assess slamming loads.

  • Reaction loads in local coordinates system: Reaction forces and moments may now be derived based on the local coordinates system. Typical application includes derivation of hang-off loads components expressed using the local coordinates system of a vessel, buoy, or rigid body.

  • Selection of times for dynamic analysis results: Initial and final times used to post-process time-history and envelop graphs may now be defined based on user-specified number of wave periods. This feature was previously limited to the last wave period. Results could now be extracted over the last N wave periods.

  • Changes to batch post-processing script files: New keywords have been added to batch post-processing script files which enable setting up optional parameters to specify whether text results files are to be stored, and whether the contents of the DSS simulation files is to be reset before post-processing is performed.

  • Creating batch post-processing script files: Batch post-processing script files may now be generated directly for a range of analyses. This feature was previously limited to a single analysis. Right-clicking any Analyses Set in the Model Browser and further selecting the Generate batch processing files item from the pop-up menu will create a single script file with post-processing instructions common to all analyses included in the Analyses Set.

  • Optional storage of reaction loads: Reaction forces and moments were always stored in DTBR binary files once calculated by the FE engine. You may now optionally ask not to save these files in case reaction loads are not of interest for your analysis. De-activating storage of reaction loads can be made through the advanced Calculation Parameters form and will allow saving significant amounts of space on your hard drive.

  • Optional storage of contact loads: Contact loads and energy were always stored in DTBC binary files once calculated by the FE engine. You may now optionally ask not to save these files in case contact loads and energy are not of interest for your analysis. De-activating storage of contact loads can be made through the advanced Calculation Parameters form and will allow saving significant amounts of space on your hard drive.

  • Display of sea-surface for static analyses: The sea-surface may now display as a shaded surface within static analyses simulation files. Shaded surface display was previously available for dynamic analyses simulation files only.

  • Export of results statistics in batch mode: Results statistics common to analyses included in an Analyses Set may now be exported to Excel in batch mode using the Batch Processing form. Export of these statistics could previously be made only from the user interface. Export of statistics can now be made automatically for all Analyses Sets included in a DSK model file.

  • Export of Zones Study results: Export of Cyclic Load Cases results to Excel has been improved and is now available using batch commands. Exporting Zones Study results in batch mode now results in Excel files being created for both Extreme and Cyclic Load cases. Export to Excel is also available from the Batch Processing form.

  • Selection of times for Zones Study processing: Selection of initial and final times used to derive results within Cyclic Load Cases can now be made automatically based on user-specified number of wave periods.

Improvements to the FE engine

  • Full QTF for wave drift loads: Wave drift loads used to be computed through QTF using Newmans approximation. The contents of the hydrodynamic database file has been improved so that full QTF may now be considered for shallow water conditions.

  • Improvements to time-domain integration scheme: A new option named Newmark adaptive has been added into the Calculation Parameters which enables further specifying the time-domain integration scheme data. This option is applicable for coupled analysis only (e.g. mooring analysis) which are generally handled without numerical damping at all. In this case time-stepping will proceed without numerical damping as required unless when convergence issues occur. The time-stepping procedure is then temporarily switched to the standard Newmark scheme with numerical damping until the convergence problem is overcome, which helps avoiding using smaller time-steps.

Bug fixes

  • Copy/paste of Analyses Sets: Copy/paste of Analyses Sets might lead to mistaken environmental data being taken into account in the analyses in case the Environment Set associated with the Analyses Set was modified. This problem has been fixed which ensures that environmental data are extracted from the Environment Set are now correctly associated with the Analyses Set.

  • Display of azimuth in Edit Line form: The azimuth angle reported for information within the Line form might be incorrect on some instances. This has been corrected and the azimuth now actually refers to the angle between the lines ends and the global X-axis.

  • Display of concentrated loads in the 3D View Window: Concentrated loads displayed incorrectly in the 3D View Window for DSS files. The position of these loads was not refreshed as required when the component submitted to that load moved.

  • Stokes 5th order wave: The routines which derive the wave kinematics based on Stokes 5th order theory might under certain circumstances report NAN values causing the analysis to stop. These routines have been modified to fix this problem.

  • Management of license keys for Winch Lines: Winch line components were protected through a specific license key and was therefore not available to all users. Winch line components should however be available with standard license keys. Protection has therefore been removed to ensure that all users could access this component.

  • Saving friction induced parameter from the Quick Data Access: The option used to specify whether friction forces shall include associated friction moment was not saved correctly when specified within the Quick Data Access form.

  • Spectral fatigue analysis of bounded flexible risers: Fatigue analysis based on the spectral method could not take advantage of predefined stress and strain RAO data stored in external DSO files.

  • Restart: The restart feature has been improved in the FE engine which improves convergence for highly non-linear analysis cases and also increases confidence in the results in case a line is wound around another component with several loops.

  • Multi-linear axial and bending/torsion laws: Defining multi-linear axial stiffness together with multi-linear bending or torsion stiffness resulted in the axial stiffness not being taken into account correctly. The axial stiffness was set to zero in this case.