Flexcom > New Features!

Highlights include…

•Offshore Wind. Aerodynamic modelling features are now available in Flexcom following successful completion of the software validation process. See Wind Turbine Modelling and Validation for further information. We’ve also updated our aerodynamic solver (developed by NREL) from FAST 8.16 to OpenFAST V3.5.3 (April 2024).

•Flexcom-on-the-Cloud. Flexcom is now available on the cloud via our AppStream platform. See Flexcom-on-the-Cloud for further information.

•Numerical Solver.

•Display of iteration progression in the Model View for non-converged solutions.

•Default numerical integration scheme is Generalised-α, controlled via optimised coefficient for the spectral radius at infinity (ρ∞). See *TIME STEPPING for a description of the new inputs.

•Critical Euler load monitored in elements experiencing compression. See Compression and Buckling for further information.

•Post-processing

•Reduced database sizes, by storing data at 1, 2 or 4 points per element. This option has the potential to greatly reduce the disk space, particularly for large load case matrices. *DATABASE CONTENT is used to control the number of data storage points.

•ISO-13628-7 (completion/workover riser systems) now supported. See Code Checking for further information.

•Seabed reaction forces available. Both time history (*TIMETRACE) and envelope (*STATISTICS) plots are available.

•Nodal reaction forces available in local axis system (see *TIMETRACE). This can be very useful when checking interface loads in the vessel axis system.

•Flexcom 8.13 informs you about the completion status of all simulations included in post-processing and results collation.

•General improvements to Excel output. Node and element label data is now included, for ease of reference to any lines used during model building. The overall layout of data has also been improved for better user experience.

•New Examples. Flexcom 8.13 includes some interesting new examples, including:

•Floating Wind: OC4 Semi-sub with NREL 5MW RWT

•Floating Wind: UMaine VolturnUS-S Semi-sub with IEA 15MW RWT

•Fixed Wind: OC4 Jacket with NREL 5MW RWT

•Wave measurement buoy

•Pipe-in-Pipe: VIV Fatigue. Flexcom offers a novel approach to estimate the VIV response of an inner pipe of a pipe-in-pipe system. See VIV Induced Fatigue of Pipe-in-Pipe Systems for further information.

•User Experience. Apart from the above, Flexcom 8.13 also provides a series of minor enhancements which will improve user experience. See Flexcom 8.13 Newsletter for further details.