Final report for WP4.3: Enhancement of design methods ... - Upwind

Task 4.1
Integration of support structure
and wind turbine design
Figure 1.1: Context of reports in WP4
1.3 Task 4.3: Enhancement of design methods and standards
In order to achieve the large-scale implementation of offshore wind farms across the EU, offshore wind
farm sites must be bigger, and also located in deeper water. The increase in water depth at these sites
means that more complex support structures are required to resist the increased overturning moments;
either braced support structures such as tripods or jackets, or floating platforms. The increase in the number
of turbines and variability in ground conditions at these sites means that the rapid processing of many
design load calculations and design iterations is even more important, for detailed and efficient wind farm
design and optimisation. These additional demands require:
i) A corresponding enhancement of the capabilities of existing design tools and methods to enable
detailed modelling of wind turbines mounted on complex support structures;
ii) Further development of international design standards and best practices for offshore wind turbine
design.
In view of this, the objectives of Task 4.3 are twofold: to enhance the available integrated design tools and
methods for the automated design of large numbers of structures at deep-water sites, and to actively support
the development of dedicated international standards which specify best practice for the design of
offshore wind farms (e.g. site-specific design, aerodynamic and hydrodynamic impact, low-risk structures,
floating concepts).
1.4 Report structure and context
Executive Report
This report is broadly divided into two parts. Part I deals with the development of design methods for
braced bottom-mounted support structures and Part II deals with the development of design methods for
floating support structures. Both parts follow the same general structure. First, the development of integrated
design tools is presented (Chapters 2 and 6). Next, a summary is given of benchmarking activities
performed for these tools (Chapters 3 and 7). Third, advanced modelling approaches currently used or
under development are presented (Chapters 4 and 8). Finally, the development of design requirements
and standards is described and recommendations given for further optimisation of the design process
(Chapters 5 and 9).
10
WP4
Offshore Foundations & Support
Structures
Task 4.2
Support structure concepts
for deep water sites
Task 4.3
Enhancement of design
methods and standards