Seagrass ecosystems are some of the most productive in the world and provide a variety of ecosystem services but are facing global decline chiefly due to anthropogenic disturbance. Mechanical disturbances to seagrass meadows from anchoring, propeller scars, and mooring scars result in losses or damage to both shoots and the underlying rhizome. I conducted a literature synthesis on the extent of, recovery from, and ecological impacts of these mechanical disturbances to seagrass meadows. The literature suggests that anchoring damage tends to be worst in deeper water where larger vessels anchor and can cause large (>100m2) loss per anchoring and recovery may take decades to over a century. Propeller damage is of largest concern in shallow (<2m) areas experiencing heavy boat traffic because propeller damage can only occur where the propeller can come close to the seagrass. Mooring damage is highly variable depending on the type of mooring used (>10m2 to >1000m2 scoured per mooring). Seagrass patches experiencing these mechanical disturbances have, in some studies, been found to have lower seagrass percent cover and shoot density than reference areas. This indicates scars can have "halos" of impacted seagrass meadow. Some seagrass systems cannot recover within a century (e.g. Posidonia oceanica meadows at the extent of their depth tolerance) while others recover annually from some disturbances (e.g., anchor scars <1m2). Systems face altered species composition when scars are preferentially recolonized by certain species and patterns of recovery are affected by altered biogeochemical conditions following disturbances. Additionally, mooring, anchoring, and propeller scarring frequently alter meadow density, cover, patch size, patch shape, patch isolation, edge area, and ratios of edge to interior meadow leading to changes in faunal community structure. Correlations between these disturbances and faunal abundances, densities, and richness in seagrass ecosystems are complex, vary temporally (sometimes on the scale of days), and may result in species showing positive, negative, or no responses to a wide range of disturbance regimes. To explore the connections between mooring scarring, the surrounding seagrass meadow condition and epifaunal community, in the second part of this thesis I measured 30 mooring scars to determine average scar size. To explore any potential "halo" effect around mooring scars for seagrass or epifauna and to seek any difference in epifaunal community between mooring and reference sites I also sampled paired sites at eight locations in Nantucket Harbor, Massachusetts three times each in the summer of 2015. Each location consisted of a meadow site actively experiencing mooring scarring and a reference site without moorings. My conservative sampling methods of the 30 sampled mooring scars found scars to average 21.1m2. Across my paired sites, seagrass was found to have lower cover and lower canopy height in mooring versus reference sites. Seagrass cover and canopy height were lower in the first few meters (typically 2-3m) surrounding each scar in comparison to paired reference quadrats indicating a "halo" effect of each scar. I did not detect a difference in epifaunal community composition or density per blade between mooring and reference sites; however, the relatively constant per blade concentration of epifauna combined with the differences in seagrass biomass between the mooring versus reference sites indicate an overall increase in the total amount of epifauna in areas with less disturbance. Epifaunal community composition was different and between locations and sampling dates indicating these factors are more important than proximity to mooring scarring in determining epifaunal abundance and richness. When considering scar area and the "halo" of each scar I estimate that at least 32ha (2%) of Nantucket Harbor was impacted by mooring scarring. Given that the estimates of seagrass do not include areas previously denuded of this plant and that my measurements were conservative, likely a larger portion of this harbor's potential seagrass habitat is impacted. Combined with the findings of loss due to these direct boat-related physical disturbances of seagrass meadows worldwide across regions, this halo effect is likely to also be found for moorings globally. I encourage management of the issue by employing and fine-tuning mooring methods (such as deploying moorings with anchor connections that do not drag on the sea floor) to minimize these unintentional but strong effects of mooring on the recipient habitat.

[pt] Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do jateamento de partículas (shot-peening) sobre a vida-fadiga do aço estrutural R4, largamente adotado na fabricação de componentes estruturais para sistemas de ancoragem de unidades flutuantes. Inicialmente, amostras cilíndricas do material foram retiradas das seções retas de elos tipo Kenter. Em seqüência, algumas amostras foram temperadas e revenidas em diferentes tempos de tratamento, com o objetivo de se promover uma homogeneidade microestrutural, bem como propriedades mecânicas similares àquelas dos elos tratados industrialmente. As amostras foram submetidas a ensaios de dureza e tração e, com base nos resultados, providenciou-se o tratamento térmico de todas as amostras. Dando continuidade a etapa experimental, corpos de prova para ensaios de fadiga foram usinados das amostras tratadas e submetidos a jateamento com microesferas de aço temperado sob pressões de 20 psi, 30 psi e 40 psi. Finalmente, corpos de prova nas condições sem jateamento e após jateamento foram submetidos a ensaios de fadiga por flexão rotativa, com o objetivo de se levantar a curva tensão versus número de ciclos para a falha (curva S-N) do aço estrutural R4 nas diferentes condições de superfície. A extensão da vida em fadiga do aço estrutural R4 foi relacionada com o jateamento de microesferas. De acordo com os resultados, houve uma influência benéfica do tratamento de superfície sobre a vida-fadiga do material. Tal influência foi caracterizada por um maior número de ciclos para a falha e aumento do limite de resistência à fadiga. Os resultados mostraram que a extensão da vida útil esteve diretamente relacionada com a intensidade do jateamento, significando que uma maior intensidade de jateamento provocou uma maior extensão da vida-fadiga do material. / [en] The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of shot peening on the fatigue life of a grade R4 structural steel, largely adopted for fabricating offshore mooring chains. Initially, cylindrical samples of the material were cut of from the straight sections of Kenter links. In the sequence, a number of specimens were austenitized ed and tempered making use of different treatment times, in order to promote a microstructural homogeneity as well as mechanical properties similar to those associated with industrial heat treatments. The specimens were subjected to hardness and tensile tests and on the basis of the results, all samples were heat treated. After that, fatigue specimens were machined from the treated samples and shot peened with quenched steel shots under pressures of 20 psi, 30 psi and 40 psi. Finally, rotating bend fatigue tests were performed with unpeened and shot peened specimens aiming to establish the stress-life curves of the grade R4 structural steel. The fatigue life extension of the grade R4 structural steel was related to the shot peening. Regarding the results, the surface treatments affected the fatigue life of the material beneficially. This influence was characterized by a longer fatigue cycles and a fatigue life improvement. The results showed that the fatigue life extension was directly related to the shot peening intensity, i.e., the fatigue life extension has increased when increasing the shot peening intensity.

[pt] O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo da influência dos tratamentos térmicos de têmpera e revenido sôbre a resistência à fratura do aço estrutural R4, adotado na fabricação de elos para sistemas de ancoragem de unidade offshore e soldados pelo processo de centelhamento. Corpos de prova do tipo CT foram retirados da região da solda dos elos, usinados com orientação L-R e submetidos a diferentes tratamentos térmicos de têmpera (temperaturas de austenitização de 810, 840, 870 e 900ºC) e revenido (640 e 680ºC), num total de quatro condições microestruturais. Após pré-trincamento em fadiga, os corpos de prova foram submetidos a carregamento monotônico em tração, com o objetivo de se determinar a resistência à fratura do material com base no parâmetro CTOD (Crack Tip Opening Displacement). Os resultados do ensaio de CTOD demonstraram que houve uma redução da resistência à fratura do aço estrutural R4 com o aumento da temperatura de austenitização (810, 840 e 870°C) e temperatura de revenido de 640°C. Entretanto, para maiores temperaturas de austenitização (900°C) e revenido (680°C), houve um aumento do parâmetro CTOD. Modificações microestruturais no material causadas pelos tratamentos térmicos foram associadas com as variações da tenacidade. / [en] This study has been made concerning the influence of quenching and tempering heat treatments on the fracture resistance of a grade R4 structural steel, largely used for fabricating offshore mooring chains by flash welding. CT specimens were taken from the welded joints region in L-R and machined following orientation and subjected to different quenching (austenizing temperatures of 810, 840, 870 and 900ºC) and tempering (640 ºC and 680ºC) treatments, in a total of four microstructural conditions. After fatigue precracking, the specimens were monotonically loaded in tension in order to determine the fracture resistance of the material on the basis of the CTOD (Crack Tip Opening Displacement) parameter. The results of the CTOD tests showed that the fracture resistance of the grade R4 structural steel has decreased when increasing the austenitizing temperature (810, 840 and 870°C) and tempering at 640ºC. However, when adopting higher austenitizing (900°C) and tempering (680° C) temperatures, the parameter CTOD has increased. The microstructural modifications caused by the heat treatments were associated with the toughness modifications.

Tie-down systems are used to fasten drilling rigs to the deck of offshore structures during harsh environmental conditions such as hurricanes. During Hurricane Ivan (2004) and Katrina (2005), a number of offshore structures were moved and several tie-down systems were damaged. In the present study, the reaction force and connection capacity of tie-down systems for a TLP and SPAR are investigated. The environmental conditions are taken from the API Bulletin 2INT-MET which has been updated after several major storms during 2004-2005. The hydrodynamic coefficients of the TLP and SPAR are obtained using a 3D diffraction/radiation panel method. The motions of the TLP and SPAR are then simulated in the time domain by using the hull-mooring-riser coupled dynamic analysis tool CHARM3D. Based on the simulated motion and acceleration time series, the inertial and gravity loads on derrick and skid base footing are calculated. In addition to the inertial-gravity loads, wind forces exerted on the derrick are also calculated. All the external forces and resultant hull motions are simulated for 100-year, 200-year and 1000-year storms to observe the derrick structural integrity with increasing environmental intensity. Various environmental headings are also considered to find the maximum reaction forces. In the present method, the phase differences between gravity-inertia forces and wind forces are taken into consideration to obtain more realistic loads on derrick and skid base footings. This research shows that the maximum and minimum load values are appreciably higher for the SPAR. In addition, the direction of external forces is also important to determine maximum reaction forces on footings. The capacities of the clamps in slip, bolt tension, and bolt shear can be also analyzed using the resultant data to provide guidance on appropriate design values.

For an offshore platform structure applied to wave-energy conversion system, in order to catch the maximum waves to generate more powers, similar to wind-energy power generators, a range of angles for the devices normal to the propagating direction of incident waves is required, particularly when the power converting system has directional preference. That is one essential reason why a single mooring offshore platform system is so important in the development of an offshore wave-energy conversion system. The single mooring-system would allow the offshore wave-energy conversion system to turn freely in accordance to the action of strong directions of propagating waves and in this way, most energy induced from the incident waves can be caught and converted into reusable powers. The aims of this study are firstly, based on previous studies to further modify a single moored offshore platform system that may subject to less wave forces in the sea and, secondly, to verify the efficiency of single-moored system by carrying out an experimental testing on a simple single-moored floating platform system in the water tank.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, 2002. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 26, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-279).

This study proposes new methods for the reliability-based design of structural systems, with emphasis on offshore mooring systems. After a brief introduction to the mooring systems, two main objectives are discussed in this dissertation. The first objective is the calculation of the probability of failure of a structural system, which is an important input for a reliability-based design or any quantitative risk assessment. Two different methods are proposed for calculation of the probability of failure: a method based on the Monte Carlo simulations and a method based on the basic rules of probability, which is called the Progressive Reliability Method (PRM). Both methods are flexible to the definition of system failure. For example, the probability of a serviceability or ultimate-strength failure can be assessed using any of the two methods. It is shown that the two methods produce similar results, but PRM is preferred because it is exact and usually faster to implement. The second main objective in this dissertation is to develop a method for the optimization of the design of a structural system, given a target probability of failure. In this method, using the structural analysis of a preliminary design, the ratio of the optimal to the preliminary mean capacity of each component, which is called the Optimality Factor, is determined. Two design strategies are considered. First, an optimal design is intended to achieve the maximum system integrity. System integrity is defined as the balanced contribution of system components to its reliability. To quantify the system integrity, the Integrity Index is defined, and its calculation for various systems is discussed. Second, a designated failure scenario is considered, where some components serve as a fuse to protect some other components. This design strategy is especially applicable to mooring systems with drag anchor foundations because normally, if a drag anchor is pulled out from the seabed, it can cause significant damages to nearby subsea facilities. Using the rules of probability, a method is then developed to calculate the optimality factor of each component.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 194-200).

This Master thesis examines the impact of the individual driving forces of young highly educated talents from Italy and Lithuania to apply for a job abroad after the graduation. By investigating the motivations and influences during this decision-making process, we clarify the role of different impulses on the individual’s decision to become part of the phenomenon known as the global talent flow. Within this study, we obtain the actor’s view, while we use an inductive approach to put the construction of meaning of the participants in the center of our study. This aim of our qualitative study is further strengthened by the use of semi-structured interviews and the usage of the phenomenology approach. The data is analyzed and interpreted according to the emerged themes and linked back to the existing theory on‘migration’, the ‘Push-Pull-Mooring’ paradigm, the ‘gravity’ model, and the knowledge flow according to ‘brain gain’, 'brain drain’, and ‘brain circulation’. This study highlights the variety of facets which are of importance to the individuals within the decision-making process of the non-rational phenomenon of the global talent flow. Although the main motivation - the opportunity to grow - is shared among all participants, a clear distinction can be made between the ‘professional’ and the ‘personal’ growth. Furthermore, our study reveals the direct influence of initiatives taken by the European Union (EU), such as the ERASMUS+ Programme on the mobility of young talents and the impact of possible unforeseen side effects such as the ‘brain drain’ in some of the member countries of the EU. Our findings contribute another layer to the understanding of the driving forces of tomorrow’s mobile workforce to apply for a job abroad. This comprehension is fundamental to policymakers, companies, the society at larger, and the young talents themselves, as it becomes crucial to attract this ‘brain’ to secure long-term development of all stakeholders of the global talent flow within the EU.

[pt] Com o crescimento da demanda de óleo, as empresas de petróleo têm sido forçadas a explorar novas reservas em águas cada vez mais profundas. Em função do alto custo das operações de exploração de petróleo, torna-se necessário o desenvolvimento de tecnologias capazes de aumentar a eficiência e reduzir os custos envolvidos. Neste contexto, a utilização de unidades flutuantes torna-se cada vez mais freqüente em águas profundas. O posicionamento das unidades flutuantes durante as operações de exploração de óleo é garantido pelas linhas de ancoragem, que são estruturas flexíveis compostas, geralmente, por trechos de aço, amarras e/ou cabos sintéticos. O presente trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um Algoritmo Genético (AG) para solucionar o problema da disposição das linhas de ancoragem de unidades flutuantes utilizadas nas operações de exploração de petróleo. A distribuição das linhas de ancoragem é um dos fatores que influencia diretamente nos deslocamentos (offsets) sofridos pelas unidades flutuantes quando submetidas às ações ambientais, como ventos, ondas e correntes. Desta forma, o AG busca uma disposição ótima das linhas de ancoragem cujo objetivo final é a minimização dos deslocamentos da unidade flutuante. Os operadores básicos utilizados por este algoritmo são mutação, crossover e seleção. Neste trabalho, foi adotada a técnica steady-state, que só efetua a substituição de um ou dois indivíduos por geração. O cálculo da posição de equilíbrio estático da unidade flutuante é feito aplicando-se a equação da catenária para cada linha de ancoragem com o objetivo de se obterem as forças de restauração na unidade, e empregando-se um processo iterativo para calcular a sua posição final de equilíbrio. / [en] With the increasing demand for oil, oil companies have been forced to exploit new fields in deep waters. Due to the high cost of oil exploitation operations, the development of technologies capable of increasing efficiency and reducing costs is crucial. In this context, the use of floating units in deep waters has become more frequent. The positioning of the floating units during oil exploitation operations is done using mooring lines, which are flexible structures usually made of steel wire, steel chain and/or synthetic cables. This work presents the development of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) procedure to solve the problem of the mooring pattern of floating units used in oil exploitation operations. The distribution of mooring lines is one of the factors that directly influence the displacements (offsets) suffered by floating units when subjected to environmental conditions such as winds, waves and currents. Thus, the GA seeks an optimum distribution of the mooring lines whose final goal is to minimize the units´ displacements. The basic operators used in this algorithm are mutation, crossover and selection. In the present work, the steady- state GA has been implemented, which performs the substitution of only one or two individuals per generation. The computation of the floating unit´s static equilibrium position is accomplished by applying the catenary equilibrium equation to each mooring line in order to obtain the out-of-balance forces on the unit, and by using an iterative process to compute the final unit equilibrium position.