The OrcaFlex Blog

We have just released a minor upgrade to OrcaFlex, version 9.2b.

This release includes a number of bug fixes as described below:

• Certain models (typically more complex models) which use the stiffener modelling object were failing to simulate when using the implicit solver.
• Results extraction from the OrcaFlex Excel spreadsheet was sometimes hanging and eventually reporting an out of memory error in Excel.
• Batch processing had a number of separate bugs. Firstly, the auto save function was not working. In addition the option to save partially completed simulation files when cancelling a batch run was not functioning. Finally, multi-threaded batch simulations could sometimes fail, erroneously reporting “out of memory” or “could not create thread” error messages.
• Certain data items are editable even after a simulation has been run. Most notably this includes stress loading factors for Line Types. Such data items can be changed within OrcaFlex and so likewise should be editable from a batch script. However, in 9.2a the act of changing any such data item from a batch script resulted in the simulation being reset.
• There were two separate bugs relating to range graphs with vertical arc length axis (a new feature introduced in 9.2a). Such graphs were reporting incorrect values in the hint window. Additionally, instantaneous value range graphs with vertical arc length axis were not automatically ranging themselves correctly.
• Import of AQWA QTF data was failing if the data has directions which are split across more than one table.
• Cancelling certain operations (e.g. opening a graph) could leave the program in a state in which simulations could not be run.

None of these bugs lead to erroneous simulation results and so this upgrade is not a critical one.  However, a number of the bugs have significant impact on commonly used program functionality and so we would recommend that all 9.2 users upgrade to 9.2b.

A patch to upgrade from 9.2a to 9.2b can be downloaded from our website. If you would prefer to receive version 9.2b on CD please contact us.

We are very pleased to announce the release of OrcaFlex version 9.2a. We are now starting the process of producing the installation CDs and customers with up to date MUS contracts should receive the upgrade in the middle of September.

There are a great many enhancements to the software which we described in the previous blog post. The only significant change in the software from that post is that the non-linear soil model is not included in 9.2a. We have not had sufficient time to perform the testing and validation of this development to a level sufficient for release. We are continuing to work on this and hope to include the non-linear soil model in a minor 9.2 update sometime later this year.

It’s been a long time since our last article and we’ve all been very consumed with work for OrcaFlex 9.2. We are nearly ready to release this major upgrade and are now in a position to announce the new features which it will introduce. The major enhancements fall into the following categories:

• Performance
• Bend Stiffener and Stress Joint modelling
• Multi-threaded batch processing
• Fatigue post-processing enhancements
• Non-linear seabed
• Wake deficit / interference modelling
• Wave spreading
• 6 DOF Vessel QTFs
• Python interface to OrcFxAPI

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We have just released a minor upgrade to OrcaFlex, version 9.1c. We strongly recommend that all users of 9.1 upgrade to 9.1c.

Version 9.1c fixes two bugs as described below:

Vessels

Versions of 9.1a and 9.1b had a bug which affected vessel motions and runtime performance when all of the following conditions were met:

• The implicit integration scheme was in use.
• A vessel had Primary Motion set to “Prescribed” or “Time History”.
• That same vessel had Superimposed Motion of “None”.

When all these conditions were met then vessel motions contained errors. The errors build up gradually during the simulation which means that longer simulations are more seriously affected. In addition simulations were significantly slower than they should have been.

In version 9.1c the problem has been corrected.

Lines

Versions 9.1a and 9.1b had a bug related to the new hint window results feature introduced in version 9.1a. If a replay is paused and you hover the mouse pointer over a line then a hint window is displayed. This hint window now includes results. The code to derive these results contained a bug which corrupts Summary and Full Results for the line, and also corrupts the 3D View of the latest simulation position.

Note that the bug does not affect other results such as Time History, Statistics, Range Graph etc. It also does not affect replays. The bug is corrected in version 9.1c.

Obtaining the upgrade

A patch to upgrade from any earlier version of 9.1 to 9.1c is available for download from our website. When downloading the patch you will be asked for a username and password which you can find in the OrcaFlex 9.1 About box (see About on the Help menu).

If you would prefer to receive version 9.1c on CD please contact us.

As I’m quite sure every OrcaFlex user knows by now, OrcaFlex 9.0 introduced an implicit time domain solver in addition to the existing explicit solver. This change led to huge improvements in run times and thus prompted us to award the release ‘major upgrade status’ and promote it from version 8 to version 9!

In August 2007 we released OrcaFlex 9.1, which introduced many further improvements to the implicit solver — version 9.1 is now significantly faster than 9.0. The purpose of this blog post is to discuss some of the improvements in version 9.1, present a runtime comparison with Flexcom, and to discuss some future developments we plan to make OrcaFlex even faster still.

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One of the changes we made in OrcaFlex 9.1 was a re-mapping of keyboard shortcuts. Mostly this was motivated by a desire to map CTRL+S to File | Save and CTRL+O to File | Open.

To make room for these changes we had to rearrange a number of other shortcuts. In particular the shortcuts to rotate the 3D View were changed to CTRL+ALT+ ← → ↑ ↓. Shortly after releasing version 9.1 we began to hear reports from some users that their laptop screen would suddenly be displayed upside down, or on its side, after using one of these shortcuts.

After a little detective work we have traced the issue to a piece of Intel software that is stealing these keyboard shortcuts before they reach OrcaFlex. The solution is as follows:

1. Open the Control Panel and make sure it uses Classic View.
2. Double click the Intel GMA Driver for mobile icon.
3. Select the Hot Keys page.
4. Deselect the “Enable Hot Keys” option.

This will fix the problem for Intel graphics cards, but there may be similar problems for cards from other manufacturers, or even for different Intel cards. I’m guessing that similar solutions will be available and that the steps described above should help you solve such problems.