Comparisons of Wave Force Model Effects on the Structural Responses and Fatigue Loads of a Semi-Submersible Floating Wind Turbine

The selection of wave force models will significantly impact the structural responses of floating wind turbines.In this study,comparisons of wave force model effects on the structural responses and fatigue loads of a semi-submersible floating wind turbine(SFWT)were conducted.Simulations were performed by employing the Morison equation(ME)with linear or second-order wave kinematics and potential flow theory(PFT)with first-or second-order wave forces.A comparison of regular waves,irregular waves,and coupled wind/waves analyses with the experimental data showed that many of the simulation results and experimental data are relatively consistent.However,notable discrepancies are found in the response amplitude operators for platform heave,tower base bending moment,and tension in mooring lines.PFT models give more satisfactory results of heave but more significant discrepan-cies in tower base bending moment than the ME models.In irregular wave analyses,low-frequency resonances were captured by PFT models with second-order difference-frequency terms,and high-frequency resonances were captured by the ME models or PFT models with second-order sum-frequency terms.These force models capture the response frequencies but do not reasonably predict the response amplitudes.The coupled wind/waves analyses showed more satisfactory results than the wave-only analyses.However,an important detail to note is that this satisfactory result is based on the overprediction of wind-induced responses.

IMPROVED MODEL FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL NONLINEAR WATER WAVE FORCE PREDICTION

An improved model for numerically predicting nonlinear wave forces exerted on an offshore structure is pro- posed.In a previous work[9],the authors presented a model for the same purpose with an open boundary condi- tion imposed,where the wave celerity has been defined constant.Generally,the value of wave celerity is time-de- pendent and varying with spatial location.With the present model the wave celerity is evaluated by an upwind dif- ference scheme,which enables the method to be extended to conditions of variable finite water depth,where the value of wave celerity varies with time as the wave approaches the offshore structure.The finite difference method incorporated with the time-stepping technique in time domain developed here makes the numerical evolution effec- tive and stable.Computational examples on interactions between a surface-piercing vertical cylinder and a solitary wave or a cnoidal wave train demonstrates the validity of this program.

The influence of wave surge force on surf-riding/broaching vulnerability criteria check

This study focuses on the influence of the wave surge force on the assessments of the surf-riding/broaching vulnerability criteria according to the new proposal of the IMO Second Generation Intact Stability Criteria. A code is developed for the criteria check and the sample ship calculations show that the accuracy of the wave surge force estimation has a significant influence on the assessment result. For further investigation, the wave surge force measurement through a captive model test is made for a purse seiner to validate the numerical model, the effects of the wave steepness and the ship forward speed on the wave surge force responses are also discussed. It is demonstrated that the diffraction effect is important for the correct estimation of the wave surge force. Therefore, it is recommended to include this effect in the assessment procedure.