Environmental Contours for Multicomponent Response

Abstract

Approaches for derivation of joint design parameters in relation to multi-component environmental processes are briefly summarized. Within the context of structural design, this is frequently referred to as a “load combination problem”. It is focused on application of design contours for analysis of such load combinations. Contours of this type can be utilized for cases where the different load processes are both correlated and uncorrelated. Existing procedures for construction of such contours are summarized, and extensions to situations where the characteristic time scales for the different process components are widely different are outlined. Development of such tools based on application of “translation processes” (i.e. transformed Gaussian processes) is highlighted. Analysis of mechanical design formulations which involve several interacting response quantities is further addressed. Utilization of so-called contour response tubes within such a framework is discussed. An example of application is given for a cross-section at the upper end of a flexible riser configuration where the interaction between the tension and curvature processes needs to be taken into accounted.