Short-crestedness effect on the dynamic response of offshore floating wind turbines

ABSTRACT

In practice, the ocean waves are short-crested and three-dimensional. The primary objective of the present research is to form a better understanding of the dynamics of offshore floating wind turbines in multi-directional waves. The short-crested waves are modelled using a spreading exponent function. The wave directionality effect on the dynamic performance of a semisubmersible offshore floating wind turbine is studied. In short-crested waves, the longitudinal response is reduced whereas the lateral response is amplified. The tower base fore-aft bending moment and the mooring line tension force are reduced. In the meanwhile, the fatigue damages of critical points at the tower base are also reduced. It is concluded that short-crestedness is beneficial to the structural integrity. The present research reveals the importance of wave short-crestedness effect on the performance of offshore floating wind turbines.

KEYWORDS:

• Offshore floating wind turbine
• wave directionality
• short-crested wave
• spreading component
• dynamic response

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The present work receives financial support from State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University (grant number HESS-1919) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 51909255). The research is also supported by the Royal Society of Edinburgh through the COP26 International Climate Change Network Grant (grant number 1012).