Simulation of marine operations for launch and recovery of bluff bodies such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV) or subsea templates is traditionally performed in calm to moderate sea conditions. The reason for doing so is partly due to the interaction between the complex dynamic response of an installation vessel, a moving bluff body and the wave kinematics of the rough sea condition. This is in addition to the need for accurate hydrodynamic coefficients that would enable proper simulation and modelling of the launch and recovery process. The key objective of the current methodology is to minimize risks of damage to the vessel and total loss of assets during the deployment and recovery process for marine operations in rough sea conditions.
The aim of this paper is to present the results of experimental and numerical investigation on the prediction of dynamic response of a bluff body during launch and recovery from a surface vessel in rough sea condition. Experimental measurements of hydrodynamic coefficients and responses of a large scale bluff body using a scaled model were completed. Further studies using a time-domain numerical tool have been undertaken to measure the response characteristic of bluff bodies in rough seas. The study also predicted the contributions of vessel motion in rough seas to the dynamic response of the bluff bodies. The results obtained have shown that simulation of launch and recovery operations in rough seas can be carried out efficiently if their hydrodynamic coefficients through the wave active regions of the rough seas are predicted and then adequately implemented in the simulations.
