Effect of Underwater Explosion on Offshore Platforms

Underwater explosion is one of the main threats to offshore installations. Prediction of damages to such structures as Jacket-Template (J-T) Platform is one of the priorities in today’s research on offshore structures. In the present study, underwater explosion is simulated using Finite Element (FE) code and its effect on J-T Platform is investigated. To verify the correctness of modeling underwater explosion in the FE code, a thin rectangular plate, subjected to a shock wave was modeled and the result of analysis of this model was compared to those cited in the literature and excellent correlation was observed. After successful model validation, a 79.85m high J-T Platform, comprising of 258 pipe members, was modeled. The pipe's material was assumed to be elasto-plastic following Johnson-Cook strain rate hardening rule. Different amounts of charge mass were placed at different distances from the offshore platform and their effect on the structure, were investigated