Time Domain Nonlinear Dynamic Response Analysis of Offshore Wind Turbines on Gravity Base Foundation under Wind and Wave Loads

Abstract

The third-generation gravity base foundation, which consists of a concrete-based structure with infill aggregates, is designed for water depths greater than 20 m. In this study, a simplified method in the time domain for predicting the nonlinear dynamic response of the offshore wind turbine supported on the third-generation gravity base foundation is proposed. The results obtained by the proposed method are compared with 3D finite element simulations, and the consistency of the results verifies the reliability of the simplified method. In addition, the dynamic response of the wind turbine supported on GBF under wind and wave loads is investigated. The results indicate that the lateral dynamic responses of the GBF are more affected by the thrust force than by the distributed force when the wind loads are only considered; the maximum dynamic displacement of the GBF caused by the drag force is almost the same as that of the GBF caused by the inertia force when the wave loads are only considered, and the dynamic response of the GBF under combined wind and wave loads show a similar trend to that of the GBF under the wind loads only, especially the existence of a large displacement on the horizontal direction at the beginning of the loading.