Approach to include load sequence effects in the design of an offshore wind turbine substructure

Fatigue is one of the main design drivers for offshore wind substructures. Using Fracture Mechanics methods, load sequence effects such as crack growth retardation due to large load peaks can be included in the fatigue damage estimation. Due to the sequence dependency, a method is required that represents the sequences of loads in the design or...

Innovative fatigue prediction model for improved fatigue performance of welded steel connections in offshore wind turbine jackets

Offshore Wind power is considered one of the fastest growing maritime sectors and the most promising sources of ‘clean’ energy towards meeting the European targets for 2020 and 2050. The growth of the sector has also been mirrored in other continents like China and US. The technology keeps rapidly growing and the top offshore turbine makers in...

Including load sequence effects in the fatigue damage estimation of an offshore wind turbine substructure

Retardation is a load sequence effect, which causes a reduced fatigue crack growth rate after an overload is encountered. Retardation can be cancelled when the overload is followed by an underload. The net effect is beneficial to the fatigue lifetime of Offshore Wind Turbines (OWTs). To be able to take this into account, computationally...