An initial design of the platform for the moderate water depth (100 m) is performed by upscaling of an existing 5 MW braceless semi-submersible platform design to support the DTU (Danish University of Science and Technology) 10 MW wind turbine. To investigate the dynamic characteristics of the ultra-large semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT), an aero-hydro-servo-elastic numerical modeling is applied to carry out the fully coupled time-domain simulation analysis. The motion responses of the ultra-large semi-submersible FOWT are presented and discussed for selected environmental conditions. Based on the quasi-static and dynamic analysis methods, the influence of the dynamic effects of the mooring lines on the platform motion responses and mooring line tension responses are discussed. Subsequently, the difference in the motion responses and structural dynamics of the DTU 10 MW and NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) 5 MW FOWT is studied due to the difference in turbine properties. The simulation results reveal that the excitation of the low-frequency wind loads on the surge and pitch motions, the tower-base fore-aft bending moments and the mooring line tension response becomes more prominent when the size of the wind turbine increases, but the excitation action of the 3P effect on the structural dynamics of the 5 MW FOWT is more obvious than those of the 10 MW FOWT.
The dynamic characteristics of a bottom-fixed offshore wind turbine (OWT) under earthquakes are analyzed by developing an integrated analysis model of the OWT. Further, the influence of the interactions between the rotor and support system on the structural responses of the OWT subjected to an earthquake is discussed. Moreover, a passive control method using a tuned mass damper (TMD) is applied to the OWT to control the responses under earthquakes. The effects of the mass ratio, location and tuned frequency of the TMD on controlling structural responses of the OWT under different recorded seismic waves are studied.
12 January 2022 in Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures
To realize multi-purpose exploration of marine resources, a novel design consisting of a monopile offshore wind turbine and steel aquaculture cage in an integrated structure is proposed in this paper; the structure is denoted as MOWTAC. Based on the theories of the screen model, a hydrodynamic analysis module is developed in the OWT simulation tool FASTv8. Then, in combination with a seismic analysis module, the fully coupled analysis model of the MOWTAC is established in the updated FAST v8. Based on the coupled model, the dynamic characteristics and coupling mechanisms of the MOWTAC under earthquake, wind, and wave loads are investigated. A tuned mass damper (TMD) is applied to the MOWTAC under earthquakes, and the influence of the TMD parameters on the mitigation effects is studied. Furthermore, a multiple tuned mass damper (MTMD) with various tuning frequencies is applied, and comparisons with the TMD are carried out. Based on the reduction of seismic responses using the TMD and MTMD, vibration control methods and related design parameters are recommended for the MOWTAC under earthquake, wind, and wave loads.
21 April 2022 in Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
The decrease in structural capacities under the limit states caused by structural corrosion is a potential hazard for the safety of offshore structures. Considering the influence of corrosion factors, a fatigue analysis of the typical tubular joints of an offshore wind turbine (OWT) substructure under operation and wave loads during the service period was performed. The structural corrosion was equivalent to a two-parameter Weibull distribution in the analysis. According to the Miner linear fatigue accumulation criterion, the accumulated fatigue damage of three different typical tubular joints in the initial stage and at operation periods of 10, 20, and 30 years was calculated. The most critical tubular joint of the studied OWT substructure is located at the connection between the pile foundations and braces. Owing to the increase in structural corrosion during the operation period, a remarkable decrease in the tubular joint fatigue capacities under the operation and wave loads was observed.