Offshore wind turbine fatigue loads: The influence of alternative wave modeling for different turbulent and mean winds

The coupled hydro-aero-elastic response and fatigue loads of a bottom-supported offshore wind turbine under different wind conditions and for different wave modeling assumptions is the subject of this study. Nonlinear modeling of hydrodynamic forcing can bring about resonant vibrations of the tower leading to significant stress amplitude cycles. A comparison between linear and fully nonlinear wave models is presented, with consideration for different accompanying mean wind speeds and turbulence intensities. Hydrodynamic and aerodynamic loads acting on the support structure and on the rotor of a 5-MW wind turbine are modeled in a fully coupled hydro-aero-elastic solver. A key finding is that when the turbine is in a parked state, the widely used linear wave modeling approach significantly underestimates fatigue loads. On the other hand, when the wind turbine is in power production, aerodynamic loads are dominant and the effects due to consideration of nonlinear wave kinematics become less important. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.