A model test method of monopile-type offshore wind turbines subjected to floating ice

Assessing ice-induced vibration is critical in determining safe operation of offshore wind turbines (OWT). However, there is currently a lack of dynamic model experimental method of the fully coupled elastic OWT under combined wind-ice loadings. In the present paper results derived from an ice-monopile-type OWT interaction experimental campaign are presented. Aiming at the mismatch of traditional similar criteria caused by the two scale effects, an 1/75 scale monopile-type OWT physical model has been constructed based on the dynamic ice force similarity criterion which is proposed within the present paper, and model ice is fabricated and verified. Furthermore, the corresponding ice dynamic testing technology is proposed by utilizing fiber grating dynamic ice force sensors, and the wind-ice simultaneous loading simulation test system is developed and used during tests for typical operational and parked states of the OWT. Ice typical failure modes, as well as, the ice-induced vibration response characteristics of OWT structures during the interaction between sea ice and monopile are revealed. We show that the proposed dynamic model test technology of the aerodynamic-ice dynamics-elastic coupled wind turbine can be effectively used as a experimental solution for evaluating the dynamic ice force and revealing the ice-induced vibration mechanism of OWTs.