Experimental Wave Flume Tests in ROV-Wave Interaction Effects on the Line Tension for a Work Class ROV in Splash Zone

Abstract Integrity and stability of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) when passing through the splash zone is one of the main concerns in the design of an ROV-umbilical system. Due to the lightweight nature of ROV in water, the umbilical experiences repetitive rapid transitions between slack and taut as the ROV travels through the splash zone. These rapid transitions induce tension spikes in the umbilical, namely snap forces, that can endanger the launch and recovery of an ROV. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the tension spikes do not exceed the safe working load of the umbilical. In this study, launch and recovery of a deep-water work class ROV are experimentally investigated using a 1:10 scaled ROV model through a series of wave flume tests. Different regular and irregular waves are generated in the flume while the ROV model is hung over the flume in four different positions. The tension time-history in the line is measured and recorded using a load cell at the top-end of the line. A simplified numerical model for launch and recovery of the ROV is developed and the numerical results are compared with the experimental ones. It is shown that the presented simplified model can be accurately used for analysis of launch and recovery of the ROV.