Description: In the case of structures submerged in a fluid field, such as offshore pipelines used in the oil and natural gas industries, appropriate fluid-based loads can be applied to simulate the dynamics of such structures. You can define the fluid field consisting of steady currents and waves (gravitational waves) and identify the model that is potentially submerged in the fluid. Abaqus computes the appropriate buoyancy and drag loads (transverse drag, tangential drag, and inertial loads) based on that fluid field. Similarly, you can define a wind field and identify the exposed structure. Abaqus computes the appropriate drag loads based on that wind field.

Buoyancy and drag loads (transverse drag, tangential drag, wind drag and inertial loads) can be applied on linear beam and pipe elements, either in the form of distributed or concentrated loads. In Abaqus/Explicit the wave formulations are limited to fifth-order Stokes waves (default), Airy waves, and user-defined waves.