=========================================================================== >>> Release notes for April, 2001 SeaSoft release =========================================================================== The usual caveats about new releases apply: you would be wise to set up a new SeaSoft directory containing this release and save your existing working directories for several months until the new release has had wide exposure and any unanticipated problems that might arise have been resolved. You should copy (not move) any necessary data files into the new release directory so you can retain copies of all data files used in the previous release in their "virgin" state. Don't forget those LOWDAT, USERRAOS and DRFTCOFS files... =========================================================================== >>> Release Highlights =========================================================================== - This is a relatively minor maintenance release with significant enhancements and modifications only for new simulations, particularly SPARSIM; however it does contain a substantial number of bug fixes and a few new features, documented below. - The new version number for all simulations is 4.20 - The FAQ has been significantly expanded and re-organized. Check it out. The current FAQ (in HTML format) is always available at one of seasoft's web site mirrors, currently http://www.seasoft.org/ (preferred) or http://www.west.net/~seasoft/. If you have not checked out the web site, you should take an opportunity to do so. Free access to all simulations is available to anyone who requests an online account. This free access is intended to help us work out the kinks in the internet-based delivery model and will naturally be limited in duration. - A list of major enhancements, modifications and bug fixes follows: =========================================================================== >>> Miscellaneous bug fixes: =========================================================================== - Fixed several editor logic and navigation bugs, and editor exit bug. - Fixed several bugs affecting oblique rotation stiffness matrices and line tension output tables in Catsim. - Fix crashing bug in Windows version of Semisim member editor. - Fix problem with user-specified surge period and mooring feedback in Moorsim. - Fix bug involving the vertical CG used in equilibrium-finding routines in Sparsim and Catsim. - Fix intermittent bug in vertical interpolation span calculation. - Eliminate overflow/underflow for very light lines in line damping routines. - Fix interpolation table bug in which a nonzero "interpolation layer" thickness could erroneously affect a simulation even if only a *single* layer was specified. - Fixed incorrectly reported user-specified vessel data in MEANOUT under non-equilibrium initial conditions. - Fix minor bug in Catsim caused by reference to vessel waterline length; Catsim doesn't necessarily have a specified waterline length. - Eliminate erroneous "Output goes to Console" message from SHIPIN. - Fix Offset Number overflow in "Offset Number" display for stiffness matrix in Catsim. - Eliminate spurious program termination for failed "tendon length" - type calculations in the Mooring Line Properties Help. - Fixed a CALMsim bug that caused incorrect reporting of some wave-frequency phase angles. - Fixed long-standing CALMsim bug causing incorrect fairlead locations to be used in some line dynamics calculations. =========================================================================== >>> Miscellaneous minor updates and enhancements: =========================================================================== - Empty MEANOUT, RANOUT files are no longer produced when their request flags are turned off. - Extensive input data error checking incorporated into all editor routines to eliminate most cases of simulation crashes due to unphysical mooring and/or vessel data. - Certain unused print options eliminated from editor routines. - Some double precision calculations incorporated into editor "auto-fill" operations, particularly fairlead rotation auto-fills. - Some marginally useful double precision calculation options added; to Catsim stiffness matrix operations in particular. - Replace the "ensemble" value [MPE + 1 std. dev.] by [MEAN + 1 std. dev]. - Rework equilibrium point evaluation & test. - Add support for corrupt data file detection. - Add support for massless lines in line damping algorithms. - Eliminate repetitive error notifications in semi member force routines. - Complete overhaul of Towsim. - Exhaustive refinement of energy & offset routines to better accommodate unusual systems (extremely stiff systems, in particular). - Eliminate some inconsistency in handling of added mass contributions to low-frequency vessel inertia. - Improve choices for finite-difference derivative increments in equilibrium-seeking routines. - Relax force/moment values required to produce a non-equilibrium warning. - Add an additional significant digit to vessel loads in LOWOUT. - Add plan-view line angle in LOWOUT tables. - Fix an occasionally illogical out-of-range warning in LOWOUT. - Numerous editor and simulation modifications to accommodate Sparsim, including vertical location of wind/current application centers for pitch/roll moment evaluation, line damping from pitch/roll motions, etc. - Code added to permit use of semisubmersibles as "buoy" or "tanker" in CALMsim. - Improve buoy added mass model for CALMsim. - Rework nonlinear line dynamics model "inertial correction" feature which produced an overestimate of buoy motions near surge resonance in CALMsim. - Rework hawser line load model to avoid problems with the "large-amplitude nonlinear model". - Improve minimum load calculation for hawsers and towlines. - Break out Hawser & CALM leg w.f. line damping separately for CALMsim. - Improve zero-finding algorithms for situations with a wholly slack line (Towsim) or hawser (CALMsim). =========================================================================== >>> Ends April, 2001 release notes ===========================================================================