LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED

STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR JACKET DESIGN USING SACS SOFTWARE

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION DIVISION
LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED

1.0 INPLACE ANALYSIS WITH PSI

In-place analysis requires the combined Jacket and topsides model to be created in
SACS using Preceed-Pro and DataGen modules. The steps are as follows: -

1. Define the basic Jacket framing using the Jacket wizard in Preceed-Pro
which defines the leg batter, conductor spacing and leg and/or skirt pile
details.
2. Title this input file as ‘sacinp.*’ where * is the user-defined title. The file
contains the model data, member properties defined using Section and
Groups. It also contains all the load data, wind areas, Cd, Cm values and
Marine growth.
3. Define the Pile and soil properties are specified separately in the ‘psiinp.*’
file. The soil properties specified are attached from the joints specified as
‘PILEHD’ in fixity in the sacinp file. All soil properties should be defined in
the order of axial, end bearing, torsional and lateral stiffness. An initial pile
penetration depth needs to be assumed. This has to be specified in the
PLGRUP card.
4. Create the Joint Can check input file called ‘jcninp.*’ where the load cases
for which the joint can unity check needs to be performed is specified in
this file.
5. Select ‘Linear Static with PSI Analysis’ option in the Runfile Wizard and
select all the above 3 files in the appropriate sections and run the analysis.
6. The output file ‘psilst’ specifies the pile capacities mobilised versus the
capacity required and gives a pile UC ratio value.
7. Open the ‘psvdb’ folder and check the member UC ratios graphically. The
joint can UC ratios need to be checked in the ‘psilst’ file.

2.0 MODAL ANALYSIS

Modal analysis is carried out to determine the various mode shapes of the platform
requires the combined Jacket and topsides model to be created in SACS using
Preceed-Pro and DataGen modules. The steps are as follows: -

1. Make a copy of the sacinp file. Rename the new file and make changes in
the LDOPT line from NSM to DYN. Further in the LCSEL change the command
from ST to DYN.
 2. Specify the retained degrees of freedom as 222000. Normally the corner
joints of the jacket and deck are specified as retained DOF’S.
3. Retain only permanent loads on the structure. Remove all other Load Data.
Convert all NGDL weights from Buoyant weights to Dry Weights.
4. Assuming that superelement is absent take max reactions from the psilst
file and create a single pile analysis file called pilinp.* in which these forces
are added using the PLSTUB card.
5. Run single pile analysis and get equivalent pile stub properties .Add these
pile stub properties to the sacinp file along with its group and section
properties.
6. Create dyninp file and specify number of modes to be extracted.
7. With the modified sacinp and the dyninp file run a analysis in extract mode
shapes and check dynlst file for frequency and mass participation factor.
This factor should be 95% at least.

3.0 FATIGUE ANALYSIS

1. Make a copy of the inplace sacinp file. Rename the file as sacinp.fatigue.
2. Make following changes to this file:
a) In the LDOPT card change the Water Depth as per bid to account for
absence of Storm Surge
b) Change the Cd and Cm values
c) Delete all loads except wave loads
d) Change the Kinematic factor to 1.0(see bid) in the WAVE card
e) In the Wave Height field, change the wave height to Average wave
height of the specific wave
f) Enter MS for obtaining maximumbase shear value
g) Delete all Load combinations from this file.
h) Advance the wave in steps of 4degrees
i) The number of static steps will therefore be 360/4 = 90
3. Run this file in Static � Linear static analysis � Select sacinp.fatigue*
4. In the output listing a saclst file is obtained from which the crest positions
for minimum and maximum shear can be found for different wave heights
and different wave directions.
5. Obtain three angles between angle1(X) and angle 2(Y) as (Y-X)/4 and
remaining three angles as ((360-Y)+X)/4
6. Enter the 6+2 angles in the sacinp file and change the number of steps to1
in increments of 1degree.
7. Run the sacinp file in Linear Static Analysis.
8. A saccsf file is obtained which will be used for the fatigue analysis.
9. Create a ftginp.* file.
10. In the FTOPT card enter design life(see bid) and factor(see bid, usually
2.0). Also enter the fatigue time period as the Wave Period (generally 1
year).
11. Initially apply API X Prime for source of S-N curve i.e. APP.
12. For SCF’s use Kuang & Wordsworth for all joints initially.
13. In the FTOPT2 card give PT, Export Fatigue data, Tubular Inline Check,
Inline Tubular SCF-AWS, and Effective Thickness Ratio-2WAL
14. Specify the SCF limits in the SCFLM card as a maximum of 6.0 and a
minimum of 1.6
15. For Grouted Joints enter Joint Override with SCF Option as Marshalls
Method.
16. In the GRPSEL RM card specify dummy structures, appurtenances, Risers and
conductors which are not part of the main structural Member but attract
Wave Load.
17. In the EXTRAC HEAD AE card enter a cut off of 0.5 to extract joints which
have a fatigue life of less than 50 years.
18. Now, in the Runfile Wizard go to Post � Fatigue Damage and Run the ftginp
file with the saccsf file and note down the joints which have service life of
less than 50 years.
19. Now, Extract these joints individually by using the EXTRAC card in the
ftginp file.
20. On running the file again as in step no.18, a ftgext file is created
automatically.
21. In the ftgext file we can make changes in the Chord Thickness, or S-N curve
to be used etc. to find the optimum change that has to be made to a
chord/brace. Note down the specific changes that need to be made for a
specific joint.
22. Now, in the ftginp file enter the JNTOVR cards for the joint overrides that
need to be specified as noted from the ftgext file.
NOTE: In the case of grouted joints, if the S-N curve needs to be changed,
use the API X curve with effective thickness option i.e. AXP option.
23. Run the Final ftginp file with the saccsf file till no joint have a service life
less than 50years.
24. The output files that are obtained from the run are the ftglst and the ftgext
files.
4.0 SEISMIC ANALYSIS (BY THE SINGLE PILE ANALYSIS METHOD)

1. Create 5 directories under seismic analysis folder – Static, Pile, NatFreq,

Earthqk and Post.
2. In Static folder, run a Linear Static analysis with PSI option for the In-place
model.
3. From the ‘psilst’ file obtain the max. axial, lateral forces and moment for
any pile group and the axial displacement from operating storm load cases
only.
4. In Pile folder, Make a copy of the psiinp.* file and rename it as pilinp.*. In
the datagen of the pilinp.* change the PSIOPT to PLOPT. At the end of the
soil data, add PLSTUB card with the force values obtained in Step 3 above.
(Note: Retain the soil prop. and a single pile group in the file, copied from
the PSI input file).
5. Run Single Pile analysis ( In MISC in Runfile Wizard) and from the ‘pillst’ get
the pile stub dimensions. Update the Inplace model by removing the pile
group members and pilehead joints and adding the pile stubs instead to it.
Also paste the pile stub section property line to the input file.
6. Copy the input (sacinp) file generated in Step 5 above to the NatFreq
directory. Make all corner nodes of the various levels as ‘222000’. Delete all
load cases except one combination for operating loads with suitable
contingencies. This load case should not contain any environmental load
data. Name it ‘SLE’ and ‘DLE’ for Strength Level and Ductility Level
Earthquake runs respectively. Include DYN option in LDOPT card and DY in
LCSEL card.
7. Create a ‘dyninp’ file with the number of mode shapes. Specify SA option in
DYNOPT card and run a Dynpac analysis. Open the output file and check the
period and total mass participation factors.
8. Copy the input file generated in Step 5 above to the Static directory. Add
LCSEL card with load case ‘SLE’ or ‘DLE’ and specify ‘CMB’ option in the
LDOPT card. Run a Linear static analysis.
9. Copy the updated model, the ‘dynmas’ and ‘dynmod’ files generated in
Step 7 above to the Earthqk directory. Copy the ‘saccsf’ file generated in
Step 8 above to the Earthqk directory.
10. Create a ‘dyrinp’ file specifying SLE as the primary load case in the STCMB
card and a factor of 2.0 for Joint can check.
11. Run an earthquake analysis with the above files and generate the ‘dyrcsf’
file. Check the max. axial, lateral forces and moment under the ‘CQC
SUMMATION FROM ALL DIRECTIONS’ column in the ‘dyrlst’ file.
12. These should be compared with the values added in Step 4. In case it is
different, update the ‘pilinp’ file with these values.
13. Repeat Steps 5 to 12 till the values converge to a reasonable limit.
14. Create a ‘pstinp’ file in the Post folder. Select Load Case 1 and 2 only i.e.,
{Earthquake+ Static (Tension)} and {Earthquake + Static (Compression)} with
a AMOD of 1.7 on the allowables.
15. Perform Element Code check and generate a Postvue Database file using
the ‘dyrcsf’ file generated in Step 11 above.
16. Create a ‘jcninp’ file with AMOD as 1.7 for Load Cases 3 and 4 only i.e.,
{Earthquake + Static (Tension)} and {Earthquake + Static (Compression)} for
joint check case. Run Joint Can analysis.

5.0 VIBRATION ANALYSIS

1. The steps 1 to 9 specified in the Seismic Analysis section 5.0 above have to
be first performed in the vibration analysis run.
2. Note : Retain relevant degrees of freedom including nodes present on
equipment.
3. Create a dyrinp file and specify the run speeds of the reciprocating
machines in the RSPEED card. Change the number of modes in the ENGVB
card. Specify the unbalanced force and moments acting at various joints of
the structure using the UNBAL card. The damping factor is 2% .
4. Run a dynamic response analysis using the dyrinp and the dynmas and
dynmod files generated from the modal analysis steps.
5. Check the displacement levels in the joints versus the allowable specified in
the dyrinp file.
6. In case the displacement is more than the specified value for some joint
provide minor plate stiffening in the sacinp file and re-run all steps.
7. Make sure that enough mode shapes are extracted to cover the engine
running speeds by 10% extra at least so that any resonance is picked up in
the analysis.