STRESS ANALYSIS OF MEMBRANE-BASED OFFSHORE FLOATING PHOTOVOLTAICS UNDER WAVE ACTION

Yao Ye; Shao Shuqin; Lian Jijian; Yang Xu; Liang Chao; Ren Xiaoli

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1536

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1) : 89-97. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1536

STRESS ANALYSIS OF MEMBRANE-BASED OFFSHORE FLOATING PHOTOVOLTAICS UNDER WAVE ACTION

Yao Ye^1,2, Shao Shuqin¹, Lian Jijian^1,2, Yang Xu^1,2, Liang Chao², Ren Xiaoli¹

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Abstract

This paper focuses on offshore membrane-based photovoltaic floating islands and conducts fluid-structure interaction analysis using the coupled Eulerian-Lagrange （CEL） finite element method. Firstly, the reliability of the CEL method is verified through wave generation theory and model tests. Subsequently, numerical simulations using the CEL method are conducted to study the stress characteristics of the membrane-based photovoltaic floating island under different conditions. The research results indicate that the wave-following behavior of the floating tubes affects the motion state of the floating body and the stress on the membrane. The key locations where the membrane experiences significant stress due to wave action are at the membrane -rope connection, between the photovoltaic panels, and at the contact points between the photovoltaic modules and the membrane. As the wave height increases, the stress at these key locations also increases, while as the wave period increases, the stress at these key locations decreases. When the wave height is 5m and breaking occurs, the waves strike the membrane directly after overtopping the floating tubes, leading to damage to the membrane near the photovoltaic modules.

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offshore photovoltaics / fluid structure interaction / stress analysis / membrane-based offshore floating photovoltaics / CEL / numerical simulation

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Yao Ye, Shao Shuqin, Lian Jijian, Yang Xu, Liang Chao, Ren Xiaoli. STRESS ANALYSIS OF MEMBRANE-BASED OFFSHORE FLOATING PHOTOVOLTAICS UNDER WAVE ACTION[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(1): 89-97 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1536

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