What was New in Version 5.0

The upgrade to version 5.0 includes several significant improvements to the modelling capabilities, improving the speed and power of the user interface. The main changes and enhancements are listed below:

Floater motion types: The dynamic vessel response is no longer defined in the Floater data form and now requires Floater motion type data to be specified in the Types folder of the Model Browser. Floater motion types may then be assigned to any Floater component in the Calculation Parameters of your analyses. This allows modelling a single vessel and then assigning different dynamic responses within distinct analyses. You therefore no longer need to duplicate your Floater component to set, for instance, alternate draft and motion RAO. The dialog used to define Floater motion types has been updated to offer more clarity and flexibility in data setting.
Motion RAO conventions: Conventions used to define vessel motion RAO may be specified in the Floater Motion type. This allows matching the data input in the user interface with any format used to output RAO data from standard hydrodynamic analysis software.
Line internal and external fluid types: Internal and external contents of lines may be defined through external properties listed in the Types folder of the Model Browser. Internal fluid types may then be assigned to any Line component in the Calculation Parameters of your analyses. This allows modelling a single line and then assigning different internal contents within distinct analyses. You therefore no longer need to duplicate your Line component to set alternate internal content. These new types data include the steady content of lines, variable content data (to model pressure, temperature and slugging loads), external fluid data (e.g. to model pipe-in-pipe), and advanced hydrodynamic settings (e.g. to model Reynolds dependent drag coefficient).
New Analysis Set type: A new Analysis Set type has been included, which allows defining series of analyses that are not based on similar structural model components. The list of components that are to be included in any individual analyses may be specified from a simple table with items to tick. These new Analysis Sets are similar to the Default Analysis Set and enable arranging your analyses in the model browser as you like.
E nvironment Sets: The content of Environment Set components has been enriched and now covers prescribed loadings and prescribed motion items that may apply to any structural component in the model. Environment Set components also allows selecting the Floater motion type that is to be considered with any combined load case. This latter development allows for instance assigning distinct motion RAO data to the same vessel within separate combined load cases.
M odel components groups: Model components displayed in the Model Browser can be moved into groups of components. These groups display in dedicated folders in the model browser. Any group may then be included in any analysis. Groups may also be duplicated while keeping the links between components included in the group. This offers a simple way to create custom model components.
Reordering of model components in the Model Browser: Model components listed in the Model folder of the Model Browser can be arranged as you wish. You can re-order the model components by dragging them with the mouse at the desired location in the Model folder.
Enhanced Zones Study post-processing: The Zones Study post-processing dialog has been updated to offer more clarity and flexibility in data setting. The Zones Study dialog has been split in two parts. It now comprises an Extreme Cases dialog used to get selected results statistics from extreme analyses, and a Cyclic Load Cases dialog used to extract fatigue loads along un-bonded flexible risers. Extended zones may be defined either through the curved position along the line, or with respect to the static location of the touch-down point.
Python scripts: Python scripts may be used to update the content of FE engine input files (.LOG files). These scripts can be invoked while the input files are being generated from Analysis Sets. These scripts allow amending selected sections in the LOG input files, including calculation parameters, environmental conditions and other loadings applied to the structural components. This can be achieved through dedicated functions that are embedded in the user interface.
Improved Batch Processing tool: The Batch Processing tool has been enhanced and now offers new optional settings and additional special instructions. Runtime now displays in the Batch Jobs data table while the batch jobs are running. A status bar located in the bottom of the form reports the number of batch jobs that are completed or failed. The number of threads can also be changed through a new instruction named Set Process #. This allows changing the number of threads within the work flow.
Deans stream regular waves: Deans stream regular waves are available from the Wave, Wave Set and Environment Set components. This wave theory is based on the use of Fourier series in which each term identically satisfies the field equation throughout the fluid and the boundary condition on the bottom. The order of the Deans stream wave can be user-specified to properly model shallow water and nearly-breaking waves;
Touch-down point results tracking: The location of the touch-down point for any line can be extracted from any static or dynamic analysis. Derivation of the touch-down point location is made at every quasi-static step or time-step based on a screening of the seabed contact loads along the line. Any static or dynamic results may then be extracted at the location of the touch-down point. Extended zones along lines used in the Zones Study post-processing requests can also be defined with respect to the location of touch-down point.
Advanced friction modelling: Advanced friction models featuring user-specified friction mobilization curves may be defined in the Contact types. These curves may apply for axial and lateral friction loads, and act with hysteresis when reversing motion. These models allow assessing the effect of berms through static and dynamic friction coefficients.
External node control Dynamic Link Libraries: External Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) may be invoked through dedicated keywords to model controls applied to any nodes in the model. These dynamic control routines define loads or motion that applies to a node. Typical applications of this feature include modelling of any PID control systems, controlled thrusters loads, dynamic positioning systems, lift on pitch-controlled wings. This new feature is available in the FE engine only and requires that you set the *NODECONT keyword in the input files.