Hydroelastic Fatigue Loads of Mooring Lines in Offshore Wind Turbine Platforms

Project Description

The current global energy crisis caused a major shift towards renewable energy sources, of which wind has shown immense potential. In Europe, 80% of wind resources are found in waters at least as deep as 60m. Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) enable the utilisation of these resources and can generate higher power outputs compared to other wind energy systems (specifically onshore wind turbines). They can play a transformative role in meeting climate action plans and green electricity generation. However, the harsh marine environment and the large wind turbine structures make offshore wind turbine platforms prone to extreme waves, currents, and wind cyclic loads. These cyclic loads, also known as fatigue loads, increase the likelihood of failure, resulting in significant financial, material, and resource losses.

Continuous power generation and Levelised Cost of Energy are characteristics of an efficient FOWT system. To design an efficient FOWT platform, detailed analyses are required to understand the aero-hydroelastic behaviour, especially of the mooring lines. Mooring lines, submerged in water, support the floating platform and are under the action of current, wave loads and platform motion. Accurate load predictions of mooring lines are crucial for understanding how the wind turbine platforms will move and handle stress over time (dynamic behaviour).

This project aims to advance state-of-the-art capabilities in predicting the nonlinear dynamic behaviour and fatigue loads of mooring lines used in FOWT platforms. To this end, the proposed project will develop accurate hydroelastic simulation tools using high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and nonlinear structural dynamics models using a novel coupled fluid-structure interaction computational framework. By enhancing our understanding and predictive capabilities in this critical area, our research seeks to contribute to the efficient development of floating offshore wind energy, ensuring safer and more reliable systems.