Validation of a potential flow-based numerical model for engineering design of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine foundations

Abstract

Abstract Designers apply numerical models for scrutinizing the complex response of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) foundations to environmental conditions at sea. This paper presents a numerical model for predicting the wave-induced motions of FOWT foundations. The model combines two solvers, one for generating the forcing wave field and the other for computing the foundation response based on Potential Flow Theory. With its robustness and relatively low computational demand, the proposed model aims to assist the initial exploratory stages of the FOWT design process. A validation of the proposed model against a laboratory experimental campaign is presented. The performance of the model is investigated, with highlighting the role of second-order hydrodynamic effects such as viscous damping and slow-drift.