Advancing insights into structural response phenomena in semi-submersible floating wind turbine hulls through model testing

Abstract

A detailed understanding of internal load characteristics in floating wind turbine (FWT) support structures is critical for improving their safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Previous research has primarily focused on the motion performance of FWTs, with limited attention given to the structural load responses of floaters. This study investigates a previously unrecognized physical phenomenon associated with the structural response of semi-submersible floaters under varying wind and wave conditions, employing a novel experimental approach to measure internal structural loads using a multi-segmented model equipped with Fiber Bragg Grating sensors. This study investigates a previously unrecognized physical phenomenon related to the structural response of semi-submersible floaters under varying wind and wave conditions, employing a novel experimental approach to measure internal structural loads using a multi-segmented model equipped with Fiber Bragg Grating sensors. Key factors considered include the relationship between floater motions and cross-sectional bending moments, the influence of environmental directions, and the effects of varying wind and wave loads. The results indicate that the wave load frequencies producing the highest bending moments differ from the floater's motion frequencies. As wave intensity increases, the nonlinear response of the floater's internal loads becomes significantly more pronounced, primarily due to higher-order harmonics, which may even rival the impact of linear wave loads. These findings provide critical insights into the dynamic structural behavior of FWT floaters, advancing their design and analysis.