This tutorial has demonstrated the modelling and analysis of a cable with bending stiffness in AquaSim, with application to riser-type problems. The model consists of 170 m of bare cable and 50 m with buoyancy elements, subjected to irregular and regular sea states including current.

Prescribed displacements and rotations were used to establish the correct layout and pretension prior to dynamic analysis. Bottom contact was handled through nodal springs applied to all potentially seabed-contacting nodes.

Results for axial force, vertical displacement, and curvature were compared against a widely used commercial offshore analysis tool. The comparison shows good overall agreement across all response parameters. Minor differences were observed — AquaSim results tend to be slightly smoother in axial force time series and predict somewhat lower vertical displacements in the lower portion of the cable. A small phase shift in tension time series was noted and is considered within acceptable engineering tolerances.

The tutorial illustrates that AquaSim is well suited for cable and riser analyses, providing reliable results consistent with industry-standard methods.