565.682.81 - Design of Ocean Structures

Expanded Course Description

This course presents a review of structural design theory and practice. Basic structural elements of ocean
structures are designed using current engineering design codes developed by the American Institute of
Steel Construction (AISC) and American Petroleum Institute (API). Topics include ocean environmental
forces, material selection, foundation design, and analysis/design of offshore structures.

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the
course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and
assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules
run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted on the Course Outline page. You should regularly
check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Introduction to Ocean Structures
• Introduction to the Ocean Environment
• Ocean Environment and Introduction to Seafloor Mechanics
• Seabed Mechanics
• Materials in the Ocean Environment
• Marine Corrosion, Biodegradation, and Introduction of Environmental Forces
• Environmental Forces on Offshore Structures –Wind, Wave Forces
• Environmental Forces on Offshore Structures - Current, Earthquake, and Ice Forces
• Fundamental Considerations for Framed Offshore Structural Analysis
• Advanced Considerations for Framed Offshore Structural Analysis
• Analysis and Design Considerations for Framed Steel Offshore Structures
• Analysis and Design of Pile Foundations for Framed Steel Offshore Structures

Course Goals

The primary goal of this course is to provide students with the technical expertise necessary to design
offshore structures using current engineering design codes developed by the American Institute of Steel
Construction (AISC) and American Petroleum Institute (API). While this course will primarily focus on
steel pile-supported jacket platforms, other types of offshore structures including concrete platforms,
compliant towers, and floating compliant platforms will be discussed. With a strong understanding in the
fundamentals of offshore structural design, students will be able to apply those fundamentals to the
design and analysis of other types of offshore structures.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Explain offshore operations and components of a typical offshore structure.
• Conduct an environmental load analysis on an offshore structure.
• Determine the foundation needs for an offshore structure.
• Select the appropriate materials including needed corrosion protection for an offshore structure.
• Apply basic engineering principles to the analysis and design of an offshore structure.

Textbooks

Reddy, D. V. and Swamidas, A. S. J. (2013). Essentials of Offshore Structures: Framed and Gravity
Platforms (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

ISBN 9781420068825

Electronic access to the textbook is found under eReserves.

Textbook information for this course is available online through the appropriate bookstore website: For
online courses, search the MBS website at http://ep.jhu.edu/bookstore.

Required Software

WORD/EXCEL

You will need access to a recent version of Microsoft WORD and EXCEL.

STAAD Pro

You will need to use the 3D Structural Analysis and Design Software, STAAD Pro. You are not required
to purchase this software. Instructions to download STAAD Pro will be given in a separate document.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 7–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an
approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the text and viewing the annotated slide
lectures (approximately 3–4 hours per week); responding to discussion questions (approximately 1/2 hour
per week); and completing homework problems (approximately 3–4 hours per week). In addition, you will
be working on projects throughout the length of this term, adding to your weekly time commitment.

This course will consist of five basic student requirements:

1. Assignments (20% of Final Grade Calculation)

Assignments consist primarily of textbook problems related to the analysis and design of offshore
structures. Problems should be done neatly on engineering paper, scanned, and submitted
through Canvas. At the top of each page, include your name, assignment (module) number,
and page number (page x of y). Each problem should begin on a new page and should follow the
outline:

Given:

Required:

Solution:

All assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar. Late submissions will be
reduced by 10% for each day late. Solutions will be posted when graded assignments are
returned.

Assignments are graded as follows:

√+ Effort demonstrated on ALL HW problems (100%)

√ Effort demonstrated on some HW problems (75%)

0 Minimal or no effort shown on HW problems (0%)

2. Team Project (25% of Final Grade Calculation)

A team project will be assigned the third week of the course. Students will work in teams of two
(assuming even number of students in course). Each team will write a term paper reviewing
current offshore platform technology (due Module 8). Teams will post a one-page point paper and
present their projects to the class (due Module 6). Students will be required to critique other
teams’ presentations and point papers. Grading rubrics will used by instructor and will be
included in the project assignment.

3. Individual Student Projects (15% of Final Grade Calculation)
Two individual student projects will be assigned. Project 1 will be the design/analysis of mono-
pile structure subjected to environmental loads including wind and waves. (due Module 10).
Project 2 will be the design/analysis of an offshore platform subjected to environmental loads
including waves and current. (due Module 12).

4. Quizzes (40% of Final Grade Calculation)

There will be four graded quizzes to assess students’ achievement of learning objectives in
modules 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. The quizzes will be available in Modules 3, 6, 9, and 12. You
will have typically one week to complete the quiz. You may use the course text to complete the quizzes.

5. Preparation and Participation (Module Discussions) (not graded – participation only)

Five discussion activities will be assigned in Modules 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9 where students will be
required to participate in asynchronous discussion on topics related to the module learning
objectives.

Post your initial response to the discussion questions by Day 3 for that module week. In addition
to your initial response, you are required to respond to at least three other posts. These follow-up
posts must be completed by Day 7.

Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings. I will monitor
module discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as they are posted.

All discussion activities are counted as part of your participation. No initial response and/or no
responses to classmates’ posting will result in an incomplete grade.

Grading Policy

Letter grades will be assigned based on the numerical course average according to the scale below. For
averages which fall between grades (e.g. 89.5%), I reserve the right to round up or down based on overall
student effort, participation, and performance. The student will drop one grade (e.g. from A- to B+) if the
participation grade for the module discussions is below a 70%.

Grade Assigned Range:

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.