An open-source comprehensive numerical model for dynamic response and loads analysis of floating offshore wind turbines

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a comprehensive open-source numerical model to study the dynamic response and load analysis of floating offshore wind turbines. The model accounts for the wind inflow, rotor aerodynamics, multibody structural model of the system, wave and current kinematics, hydrodynamics, and mooring-line dynamics. This coupled simulation tool can be used for analysis, optimization and preliminary design to determine the technical and economic feasibility. Several verification and validation cases are performed to show the correctness of the numerical simulations. The results show that the proposed approach provides an accurate estimate of the wind turbine dynamics and loads. The simulation tool is then applied in the analysis of a 5 MW wind turbine aimed to characterize the dynamic response and to identify potential loads and instabilities resulting from the dynamic couplings between the turbine and the external conditions. This open-source fully coupled aero-hydro-elastic model provides a modular framework to enable investigating a variety of wind turbine configurations, support systems, and mooring lines. Therefore, it is expected that researchers and design engineers worldwide use the model to study, investigate and analyze different aspects of floating offshore wind turbine design, which results is the promotion and advancement of science and technology for floating offshore wind turbines.