The deployment skid needs to lift subsea control modules (SCM) and module running tools.
IDAC carried out static and dynamic analyses of the two designs of the skid using engineering simulation software ANSYS and ANSYS LS-Dyna.
The SCM and MRT modules were considered to be the occupants, during the dynamic analysis to ensure cargo did not experience any detrimental displacements.
A base model of the skid and a braced model incorporating additional braces on the top and sides of the skid were analysed under two static and impact analysis conditions.
The impact velocity was based on the skid unit being suspended from a Knuckle crane on a dynamically positioned support vessel.
IDAC said the the bracing had a significant effect on the behavior of the skid in both the static and dynamic analyses.
The company said that a full crash test to reproduce the dynamic conditions of a real life crash would be very expensive; however, IDAC was able to reproduce results at a fraction of the cost of a full crash test.
IDAC carried out the finite element analyses and tested the ‘virtual’ prototype so that a prototype skid did not have to be manufactured and tested.
