Numerical analysis of the dynamic behavior of a Floating Wind Platform in regular waves

Abstract

The goal of this study is to analyze the hydrodynamic behavior of a Floating Wind Platform (FOWT) under regular wave conditions. The analysis considers three degrees of freedom: Heave, Pitch and Surge. The study was car-ried out using a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) tool, based on the Navier-Stokes equations and the Finite Volume Method, and results were compared against experimental tests performed at the Wave/Towing Tank at Universidad Austral de Chile (CEH-UACh). For this analysis, a generic scales semi-submersible platform was used under different regular wave conditions, obtain-ing wave height data at different points of the control volume and translation and rotation movements to obtain the RAO's (Response Amplitude Operator) in each of the considered degrees of freedom. For the CFD simulations, commercial software STAR CCM+ was used, where the flow characteristics were defined through Volume of Fluid (VOF) and their respective boundary conditions. Final-ly, the results of both methodologies were compared, showing an adequate de-gree of correlation between them.