Gala Honorees
2008 ASCE/OTC Hall of Fame Paper Awards
1. Paper 1190 (1970) C. Petrauskas and P. M. Aagard
Extrapolation of Historical Storm Data for Estimating Design Wave Heights
This is the first OTC paper addressing the statistical techniques used in establishing design criteria. The principles and methods found in the paper were used widely and were considered as providing a better method for developing design criteria. The work is cited in most published papers pertaining to the estimation of wave design criteria.
2. Paper 1261 (1970) K. A. Blenkarn
Measurement and Analysis of Ice Forces on Cook Inlet Structures
This paper clearly demonstrated the value of field measurements in reducing the large uncertainties that are associated with ice loads on offshore platforms. The paper was written following the installation of 14 offshore platforms in Cook Inlet at a time of large uncertainties regarding interaction of sea ice with platforms. This information continues to be of current interest today for platforms in harsher arctic environments
3. Paper 1327 (1971) E. H. Doyle, B. McClelland, and G. H. Ferguson
Wire-Line Vane Probe for Deep Penetration Measurements of Ocean Bottom Sediment Strength
This paper introduced the use of the remote vane for in-situ strength testing of sub-marine soils, the first effective means for offshore in-situ testing of cohesive soils. It resulted in the discovery that conventional site investigation practice was introducing significant sample disturbance. More importantly this paper literally initiated modern in situ testing and undisturbed sampling from a floating platform. The concepts and principles laid out in this paper are integral components of all site investigations carried out today, especially those in deep water..
4. Paper 1500 (1971) G.F.M.Remery and A.J.Hermans
The Slow Drift Oscillations of a Moored Object in Random Seas
This paper developed a method to calculate the resonance motions of the moored ship and its mooring loads excited by second order wave effects. It addressed a physical problem of low frequency response that was not understood at the time. The discoveries made in this paper impacted the further development of the calculation codes to determine the wave drift loads with potential diffraction theory. The methodology was incorporated into analysis codes and the widely cited theory is still used in today’s potential flow diffraction codes.
5. Paper 2942 (1977) R. C. Kirby and C. P. Wroth
Application of Critical State Soil Mechanics to the Prediction of Axial Capacity for Driven Piles in Clay
The concepts presented in this paper formed the basis for a large, multi-year joint industry project that provided a major advance in the understanding of pile behavior in clay at a fundamental level. The paper advanced the use of two new and highly innovative ideas in pile analysis, the cavity expansion process and Cam Clay theory, and it spawned a tremendous amount of industry research which ultimately led to the development of the improved pile capacity methods now in use.
6. Paper 3229 (1978) E.G. Ward, L.E.Borgman, V.J. Cardone
A Statistics of Hurricane Waves in the Gulf of Mexico
This paper was in the vanguard of a new way to determine the likely future wave conditions by looking closely at the past, namely hindcasting. For the first time, using state of the art methods, a significant database of past hurricane wave statistics was developed, from which future return intervals could be inferred. The hindcast concept has been used in many geographical areas in the met ocean field, and has proven to be an excellent way to inform of expected future conditions. The information in this paper was contributory to various codes and standards. The hindcast concept has been used in many geographical areas in the met ocean field, and has proven to be an excellent way to inform of expected future conditions.
7. Paper 3380 (1979) P. H. Wirsching
Fatigue Reliability in Welded Joints of Offshore Structures
This paper created a format for assessing the fatigue reliability of offshore welded joints, focusing on tubular joints. The paper provides a means to evaluate risk in fatigue sensitive environments using little more than design data and the S-N fatigue design approach. This work has been broadly cited by other researchers and codes of practice, wherever fatigue reliability is discussed. The methodology has not changed to this day.
8. Paper 3690 (1980) J. A. Yura, N. Zettlemoyer and I. F. Edwards
Ultimate Capacity Equations for Tubular Joints
This paper was the most important advance in strength assessment/design of tubular joints since the early '70s, when all codified, offshore design practices were in their infancy. The paper's design equations greatly improved the reliability of joint designs and, at the same time, significantly reduced over-conservatism. The work spurred many worldwide follow-on studies. The recommendations were adopted by API and later were reflected in UK, Norwegian, and other practices. The equations were accepted, if not recommended, by all major Class societies and included in virtually all commonly used software packages. Several books refer to this work.
9. Paper 3951 (1981) L J.A. Pinkster
Mean and Low Frequency Wave Forces on Semi Submersibles
This paper provided a new simulation technique which is nowadays widely used to calculate the mooring loads for semi submersibles in waves. It was the first time that diffraction theory was applied to calculate the drift loads on semi submersibles. The methods described in this paper are still widely used in the offshore industry to assess the mooring loads a semi submersible will encounter in waves.
