A new diffraction example is now available on our website: L04 Sectional bodies. The example demonstrates how sectional bodies, introduced in v11.4, can be used to enhance the multibody analysis capabilities of OrcaWave & OrcaFlex.

Prior to v11.4, OrcaWave & OrcaFlex were capable of undertaking multibody analysis, provided that each body could be considered closed. This capability is useful when modelling two or more independent structures in close proximity. Furthermore multibody analysis can be used to analyse the loads within a single structure, provided that structure can be represented by a collection of distinct meshed bodies (see Example L03).

In v11.4 onwards, a new type of body has been introduced that we refer to as a sectional body. Users are able to construct structures from multiple sectional bodies. Each sectional body references an open ended mesh. When considered as a group, the sectional body meshes unite to represent the closed hull.

The example focusses on a semi-sub platform that closely resembles the VolturnUS platform, as modelled in example K03. The platform is represented using a system of seven sectional bodies. We show how sectional multibody analysis can be used to evaluate the distributed loads within a structure. Furthermore we demonstrate how this approach can be used in tandem with OrcaFlex line and constraint objects to model a degree of flexibility in the platform. We anticipate that the results reported by OrcaFlex could be used to inform a targeted analysis conducted with specialised structural analysis software.

We hope that this example is informative and helps to expand your knowledge of the diffraction capabilities within our software.