The determination of wind effects, such as forces and heeling moments for the hull, topsides, accommodation areas, and helideck of a ship-shaped offshore unit, can be an essential task for the analysis of intact and damage stabilities and other strength aspects. Wind forces and wind moments should also be predicted for the analyses of mooring and thruster systems. Although theoretical and numerical simulations including computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods may be employed, wind-tunnel tests are highly desirable to get more reliable estimates in this regard.

Wind-tunnel tests are also usually used to analyze smoke ingress and ventilation problems on board a ship-shaped offshore unit, aspects that are always involved in various environmental and safety risk assessments. Examples include assessment and optimization of the areas over the helideck, which are affected by disturbed flow and by temperature rises due to turbine exhaust emissions. To model emergency gas releases and fire scenarios and to identify the regions of poor ventilation, wind-tunnel tests may be required. The natural ventilation within the process areas of an FPSO can also be assessed by wind-tunnel testing.

For a detailed description of the wind-tunnel testing of ship-shaped offshore units involving test procedures, measurement techniques, and assessment criteria, refer to the UK HSE report titled Review of model-testing requirements for FPSOs, Offshore Technology Report, 2000/123, Health and Safety Executive, UK, 2000.