Structural Optimization of Mooring Systems for Geometric Efficiency

Abstract

Structural optimization of mooring systems is an effective strategy for reducing design effort and cost in the offshore industry. This study builds on previous work that introduced efficient optimization methodologies. Here, we extend the approach to a practical goal: minimizing the total length of the mooring system while satisfying performance and geometric constraints. Using the Equivalent Static Analyses (ESA) methodology proposed by Domingos et al. (2023), the optimization framework allows each mooring line to vary independently in total length, horizontal projection (fairlead-to-anchor distance), and azimuthal orientation. This design flexibility enables the exploration of a broader design space while complying with the physical and operational constraints of offshore systems. By integrating these variables and leveraging the computational benefits of earlier research, the method produces optimized mooring layouts that are computationally efficient and readily applicable to practical offshore engineering scenarios. The resulting configurations reached the lower bounds on line lengths while satisfying all design criteria, demonstrating the method’s capability to achieve effective layouts under realistic constraints.