Hydrodynamic Forces and Pressure Loads on Heave Plates for Semi-Submersible Floating Offshore Wind Turbines: A Case Study

Abstract

Hydrodynamic forces on heave plates for a semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine are discussed in this paper. Results from experiments in which added mass and damping coefficients have been measured are presented. A model which allows the fitting of a plain plate and the real reinforced one has been built. The experimental campaign comprised as well the direct measurement of dynamic pressure on the heave plates, important for the heave plates structural design. Numerical simulations have been conducted both with a frequency domain panel method and a RANS CFD commercial code. Results have been compared with literature and consistent nondimensionalizations have been sought so that such results can be useful for preliminary design purposes.