Influence of Model Simplifications Excitation Force in Surge for a Floating Foundation for Offshore Wind Turbines

Morten Thøtt Andersen, Dennis Hindhede and Jimmy Lauridsen
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Morten Thøtt Andersen: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Sofiendalsvej 11, 9200 Aalborg SV, Denmark
Dennis Hindhede: Department of Civil Engineering, Aarhus University, Inge Lehmanns Gade 10, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Jimmy Lauridsen: Department of Civil Engineering, Aarhus University, Inge Lehmanns Gade 10, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: As offshore wind turbines move towards deeper and more distant sites, the concept of floating foundations is a potential technically and economically attractive alternative to the traditional fixed foundations. Unlike the well-studied monopile, the geometry of a floating foundation is complex and, thereby, increases the difficulty in wave force determination due to limitations of the commonly used simplified methods. This paper deals with a physical model test of the hydrodynamic excitation force in surge on a fixed three-columned structure intended as a floating foundation for offshore wind turbines. The experiments were conducted in a wave basin at Aalborg University. The test results are compared with a Boundary Element Method code based on linear diffraction theory for different wave force regimes defined by the column diameter, wave heights and lengths. Furthermore, the study investigates the influence of incident wave direction and stabilizing heave-plates. The structure can be divided into primary, secondary and tertiary parts, defined by the columns, heave-plates and braces to determine the excitation force in surge. The test results are in good agreement with the numerical computation for the primary parts only, which leads to simplified determination of peak frequencies and corresponding dominant force regime.

Keywords: wave force; surge; experimental; semi-submersible; offshore; floating foundation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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