School of Engineering and Computer Science

Engineering Final Year Project

PLAN REPORT

Analysis and Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Support

Structures

Family Name: Alenezi

Forename/s: Abdulrazaq

Degree Programme: BEng ME

First Supervisor: Dr. J Liu

Second Marker:

Academic Year: 2016 / 2017

Contents

1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3

1.1 Types of support structures .................................................................................................................... 3

1.2 Forces and Loads on support structure .................................................................................................. 4

1.2.1 Wind Loads ...................................................................................................................................... 5

1.2.2 Wave and current loads................................................................................................................... 6

2.Objective .................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.Activities..................................................................................................................................................... 8

4.Gant Chart ................................................................................................................................................ 10

5. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 11

6.References ............................................................................................................................................... 12

Table of Figures

Figure 1: Tripod type of support (Borg et al., 2014) ..................................................................................... 4

Figure 2: Wind components on the turbine and substructure (DNV, 2014) ................................................ 6

Figure 3: Simple loads for a support structure (DNV, 2014) ......................................................................... 7

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1. Introduction
Offshore wind turbine support structures face a number of load forces such as hydrodynamic, wind,
dynamic load of the wind turbine, and the combined weight. Wind and wave loads can be significant
during storms and high winds (Borg and Collu, 2014). While the aerodynamic design of the rotor blades
dampen the wind load, the full force on the rotors, hub, nacelle and other structures are transmitted to
the support structures. If the support structure does not have a sufficient factor of safety, it will fail,
leading to catastrophic failure of the wind turbine (Fenech et al., 2011). Offshore wind turbines face
significantly higher loads than onshore wind turbines. This document discusses the plan for some
important aspects of analysis and design of offshore wind turbines. The objective of this project is to
analyse, compare, and find low-cost and low-risk support structures of low weight and high strength in
order to improve the economic feasibility of offshore wind farms. Support structures cost about 25% of
the full turbine cost, and optimisation of these costs can result in considerable savings.

1.1 Types of support structures

The standard type of support structures are monopile, jacket, tripod, gravity base, and floating
structures. The most commonly used is monopole (Gong, 2011). Design of the support structures must
consider the wave and wind loads, turbine loads, soil structure, and other aspects. The next sections
briefly describe these structures. The plan is to understand the structure and analyse the load on these
structures.

Monopile: This type of support is used in shallow to medium water depths. It is made with steel tubes of
6 meters diameter. The tube is installed by using driving or drilling methods, and transition components
are grouted on top of the file (Kaldellis, 2012). The following figure illustrates a monopile foundation.

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Jacket: This type is used for medium to deep-water depths. Steel tubes of 1.5 meters are welded
together, and the assembly is placed in drilled piles of 2.5-meter diameter (Lefebvre and Collu, 2012).
The following figure illustrates the Jacket type.

Tripod: It is made from steel tunes of 1-5 meters diameters, and the transition piece is placed in the
column centre. It is driven by drilled piles of 2.5 meters diameter (Negro et al., 2014). Following figure
illustrates the set up.

FIGURE 1: TRIPOD TYPE OF SUPPORT (BORG ET AL., 2014)

1.2 Forces and Loads on support structure

This section discusses various loads on the support structure and the wind turbine. An important point is
that, the wind loads on the turbine are transmitted to the support structure, and then to the seabed
(Prez-Collazo et al., 2015). Certain normal conditions are assumed for different external parameters.
The average wind speed is taken as 7.5 meters/second, average wave height is 0.49 meters, average
wave period is 7.5 seconds, and average speed of ocean currents is 0.134 meters/second. It is further
assumed that normally, these parameters act in the same horizontal direction with moments at in-plane.
Extreme conditions considered as 70 m/s wind speed, 14.88 wave height, wave period is 12.47 seconds
and ocean current speed is 1.4 m/s (Shi et al., 2013). The project plan must consider all these loads.

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1.2.1 Wind Loads
Consider the force on the blades from the wind/ unit height of the tower as F1 and f2. The base shear
loads and the base overturning moments are calculated as (Tempel, 2006; DNV, 2014):

---------------- (1)

And

----------- (2)

Where:

H is the height from the ground to the centre of the hub

air is the air density

UH is the mean wind speed at the height

Cf is the wind force coefficient for the blades

CD is the drag force coefficient for the tower

A is the reference area for the blades

D(z) is the diameter of the tower and z is the height of the tower

F1 is the integrated thrust force that acts on the rotor tower is considered as

M is the drag force that acts on the tower

Time averaged continuity and momentum equations are together used the k-w model of turbulence to
describe the airflow around the wind turbine. The following figure presents the forces and different
momentums of the forces.

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 FIGURE 2: WIND COMPONENTS ON THE TURBINE AND SUBSTRUCTURE (DNV, 2014)

The comprehensive loads for different components and the moments can be obtained at wind speeds of
70 m/s from design tables. These loads can then be applied to a 3D simulation model to find out the
dimensions that can resist the loads.

1.2.2 Wave and current loads

The sectional force dfN for a fixed slender structure in a normal to the axis is calculated as per the
Morison's load formula (Tempel, 2006; DNV, 2014):

------------------------------ (3)

Where:

v is the fluid particle of waves and/or current) velocity in m/s

v. is the acceleration of the fluid particles in m/ sec square

A is the cross sectional area of the column in m2

D is the diameter in m

is the mass density of fluid in Kg/ m3

CA is the added mass coefficient of the cross-sectional

CD is the drag coefficient

The value of mass coefficient is CM = 1 +CA

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For standard calculations, the mass density of air at sea level is taken as 1.293 kg/ m3, and for sea water,
it is 1000 kg/ me. The drag coefficient to 100 meters height is 0.9 and the mass coefficient is 1. For
simulation, the loading points for a 70 meter height are given below:

FIGURE 3: SIMPLE LOADS FOR A SUPPORT STRUCTURE (DNV, 2014)

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2.Objective

Analysis and modelling of existing support structures in an FEA environment, for example, ANSYS.

To study the effects of varying loading points, reducing dimensions and different structural designs to
get stress and displacement values using FEA approximation.

Design the best possible structure using the least amount of material whilst also maintaining its strength
and stability.

3.Activities

Literature Review
Literature review stage involved through review of previously published literature on the topic,
highlighting the aims of the project and discussing them with the project supervisor.
Project planning & Risk assessment
The project plan involves an overall framework of the project to be carried out including the
objectives, timeline and the required activities. During the same time, the risk assessment form
was also signed and submitted.
The Finite Element
The software program to be used to reduce production cost and optimize product performance
is called the finite element.
Structure
Best option for project would be to use gravity structure followed by monopile.
Modelling
Structural drawing and modelling of support structures to be used for offshore wind turbines.
Structural analysis
3D technique using the software finite element will be used to analyse the structures.
Progress report
The project report will be used to mark the progress of the plan and identify the problems that
occurred during the project. It will highlight the areas that have already been completed and

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show the areas that need to be done. Any results or drawings obtained and/or made during the
project and use of finite element will be added to the project report.
Poster Presentation
The presentation will be done in the beginning of the second semester to identify the aims of
the project and summarize its importance. It will also show the best results and conclusions
obtained from it as well as any further work that needs to be done.
Structural optimization
The best materials for the structure would ideally have the highest tensile strength but lowest
weight.
Thesis
The thesis will include the final results and structural designs obtained and a draft submitted by
the second semester.
Inspection
All calculations, figures, references and tables used will be thoroughly checked throughout the
project.

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 4.Gant Chart

First Semester
Week
Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Meeting with supervisor
Research and Review
Project plan
Studying and practice FEA (ANSYS)
Make models on ANSYS
Run FEA on models
Thesis
Progress report Submission prepare
Poster Submission prepare

Second Semester
Week
Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Research and Review
Poster Presentation
Initiating Thesis
Continue on analysis
Make new models om ANSYS
Run FEA on new models
Showing results to supervisor
Finalising Thesis Submission prepare
Project presentation Preparation
Viva examination

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5. Conclusions
The paper analysed different types of support structures and their components. The load calculations
for wind and wave loads were also presented. Along with the simple or static loads, it is important to
calculate the moments of the turbine tower since these loads are transmitted to the support structure.
After all the loads are calculated, then the total load can be calculated along with a safety factor. The
next step is to refer to civil engineering texts to find the optimum size of components and the support
structure that can withstand these loads. Factors such as the compressive strength of cement, steel
rebar size, steel tube size, etc., must be calculated and run through simulations These actions will help
to obtain the optimum size, cost, and other aspects.

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6.References

Borg, M., and Collu, M. 2014. A comparison on the dynamics of a floating vertical axis wind turbine on three
different floating support structures. Energy Procedia, 53, 268-279.

DNV, 2014. Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Structures: Offshore Standards DNV-OS-J101. Det Norske Veritas
AS, Norway.

Fenech, L., Sant, T., and Muscat, M. 2011. Design and cost evaluation of a deep water support structure for a
wind turbine in central Mediterranean waters. In Proceedings of the European Wind Energy Conference,
Brussels, Belgium, 1417.

Gong, W. 2011. Lattice Tower Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Support Structures. Masters Thesis,
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Kaldellis, J.K., and Zafirakis, D.P. 2012. Trends, prospects, and R&D directions in wind turbine technology.
Compr. Renewable Energy, 2, 671724.

Lefebvre, S., and Collu, M., 2012. Preliminary design of a floating support structure for a 5MW offshore wind
turbine. Ocean Engineering, 40, pp. 15-26.

Negro, V., Lpez-Gutirrez, J.S., Esteban, M.D., and Matutano, C., 2014. Uncertainties in the design of support
structures and foundations for offshore wind turbines. Renewable Energy, 63, pp. 125-132.

Prez-Collazo, C., Greaves, D., and Iglesias, G.A. 2015. A review of combined wave and offshore wind energy.
Renewable Sustainable Energy Review, 42, 141153.

Shi, W., Park, H., Chung, C. Baek, J., Kim, Y., and Kim, C. 2013. Load analysis and comparison of different
jacket foundations. Renewable Energy, 54, 201210.

Tempel, J.V.D. 2006. Design of Support Structures for Offshore Wind Turbines. PhD Thesis, Technische
Universiteit Delft, Norway.

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