ANALYSIS OF HYDRODYNAMIC LOADS ON OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES UNDER WAVE-CURRENT INTERACTION CONDITIONS

Zhang Yupeng; Chen Qingwei; Zhang Zhaohuan; Sun Jingwei; Yang Tianlang; Chen Yan

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-1129

PDF(2699 KB)

Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (12) : 420-431. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-1129

ANALYSIS OF HYDRODYNAMIC LOADS ON OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES UNDER WAVE-CURRENT INTERACTION CONDITIONS

Zhang Yupeng¹, Chen Qingwei², Zhang Zhaohuan², Sun Jingwei¹, Yang Tianlang¹, Chen Yan¹

Author information +

History +

Abstract

To investigate the hydrodynamic loads on a monopile offshore wind turbine tower under extreme wave-current conditions and analyze the influence of wave and current conditions on the wave field, this study examines the correlation between oceanographic factors （such as wave height, wave period, and current velocity） and hydrodynamic loads to predict the maximum hydrodynamic loads. A numerical wave tank model was established using the fluid simulation software Waves2Foam to measure and analyze wave height, wave velocity, and hydrodynamic loads on the tower under various extreme wave-current coupling conditions. The total hydrodynamic loads were precisely calculated by integrating surface stresses on the tower based on the Navier-Stokes equations. Additionally, the LightGBM algorithm was employed to predict the maximum hydrodynamic loads and evaluate the correlation between oceanographic factors and hydrodynamic loads. The results demonstrate that background currents slightly reduce extreme wave heights. When waves propagate in the same direction as the background current, the horizontal velocity of water particles increases significantly, thereby amplifying the hydrodynamic loads on the tower. The presence of the tower structure notably affects the wave field, increasing wave amplitude upstream of the tower while reducing background current velocity. Due to the strong nonlinearity of extreme wave-current interactions and complex three-dimensional flow disturbances induced by the tower, the stress integration method based on the Navier-Stokes equations captures these intense interactions more effectively than the Morison equation. Among the selected oceanographic factors, wave height exhibits the strongest correlation with the maximum hydrodynamic loads on the structure, establishing it as a critical parameter for predicting hydrodynamic loads.

Key words

offshore wind turbines / monopile foundations / hydrodynamic loads / LightGBM / wave-current interaction / numerical simulation

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Zhang Yupeng, Chen Qingwei, Zhang Zhaohuan, Sun Jingwei, Yang Tianlang, Chen Yan. ANALYSIS OF HYDRODYNAMIC LOADS ON OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES UNDER WAVE-CURRENT INTERACTION CONDITIONS[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(12): 420-431 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-1129

References

[1] Bhattacharya S.Challenges in design of foundations for offshore wind turbines[J]. Engineering & Technology Reference, 2014 1(1): 1-9
[2] Adhikari S, Bhattacharya S.Vibrations of wind-turbines considering soil-structure interaction[J]. Wind and Structures an International Journal, 2011, 14(2): 85-112.
[3] 周林, 施伟, 张松浩, 等. 破碎波作用下单桩式海上风机水动力学数值分析[J]. 南方能源建设, 2020, 7(3): 70-80.
Zhou L, Shi W, Zhang S H, et al.Numerical analysis of hydrodynamic characteristics of monopile-type OWT under breaking wave[J]. Southern Energy Construction, 2020, 7(3): 70-80.
[4] 张小玲, 周锐, 许成顺. 海上风电基础修正p-y曲线模型研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2023, 44(12): 290-297.
Zhang X L, Zhou R, Xu C S.Study on corrected p-y curve model of pile foundation of offshore wind turbines[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2023, 44(12): 290-297.
[5] Guedes Soares C, Duan W Y.Wave loads on ships and offshore structures[J]. Journal of Marine Science and Application, 2018, 17(3): 281-283.
[6] 李涛, 王顺意, 李彪, 等. 波流作用下海上风机大直径加翼单桩基础局部冲刷试验研究[J]. 海洋工程, 2024, 42(6): 60-70.
Li T, Wang S Y, Li B, et al.Experimental research on local scour of large-diameter winged monopoles for offshore wind turbines under wave-current interaction[J]. The Ocean Engineering, 2024, 42(6): 60-70.
[7] 曹雄. 考虑波流作用的海上风机大直径单桩基础水平承载特性研究[D]. 长沙: 湖南大学, 2020.
Cao X.Lateral bearing behavior of large-diameter monopile foundation of offshore wind turbine by considering the effect of wave and flow[D]. Changsha: Hunan University, 2020.
[8] 中国电建集团华东勘测设计研究院. 流-固-土耦合效应实验装置: CN222435371U[P].2024-05-18.
PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited. Experimental Device for Simulating Fluid-Structure-Soil Coupling Effect of Wind Turbine Monopile under Dynamic Influence: CN222435371U[P].2024-05-018.
[9] 柯世堂, 王硕, 赵永发,等.台风-浪-流耦合作用下海上风力机基础结构水动力特性分析[J]. 太阳能学报,2022, 43(10): 218-228.
Ke S T, Wang S, Zhao Y F, et al.Research on hydrodynamics of foundation structure of offshore wind turbine under typhoon-wave-current coupling[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2022, 43(10): 218-228.
[10] 陈建兵, 宋玉鹏.海上浮式风机的一体化建模及其整体可靠性[J]. 空气动力学学报, 2022, 40(4): 191-202.
Chen J B, Song Y P.Integrated dynamic modeling and global reliability analysis of floating offshore wind turbines[J]. Acta Aerodynamica Sinica, 2022, 40(4): 191-202.
[11] 黄斐, 朱仁庆, 刘红藏, 等. 波流耦合下海上风力机单桩基础水动力特性分析[J]. 太阳能学报, 2025, 46(4): 485-493.
Huang F, Zhu R Q, Liu H Z, et al.Analysis of hydrodynamic characteristics ofoffshore wind turbine single-pile foundation under wave-current coupling[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2025, 46(4): 485-493.
[12] Fang H Q, Liu P L, Tang L, et al.The theory of fifth-order Stokes waves in a linear shear current[J]. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2023, 479(2280): 20230565.
[13] Skjelbreia L, Hendrickson J A.Fifth order gravity wave theory[C]//Proceedings of the 7th Conference on Coastal Engineering. The Hague, Netherlands: ASCE, 1960: 184-196.
[14] 吴永胜, 练继建, 王兆印, 等. 波浪-水流相互作用模型[J]. 水利学报, 2002, 33(4): 13-17.
Wu Y S, Lian J J, Wang Z Y, et al.Interaction model for wave and current[J]. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 2002, 33(4): 13-17.
[15] Jonkman J M, Robertson A N, Hayman G J.HydroDyn User’s Guide and Theory Manual[M]. Golden, CO, USA: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), 2014.
[16] Xin Z R, Li X, Li Y.Coupled effects of wave and depth-dependent current interaction on extreme responses of a spar-type floating wind turbine[J]. Ocean Engineering, 2025.
[17] Jacobsen N G, Fuhrman D R, Fredsøe J.A wave generation toolbox for the open-source CFD library: OpenFoam^®[J]. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 2012, 70(9): 1073-1088.
[18] Gruwez V, Altomare C, Suzuki T, et al.Validation of RANS modelling for wave interactions with sea dikes on shallow foreshores using a large-scale experimental dataset[J]. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2020, 8(9): 650.
[19] Wei K, Hu K Y.CFD modeling of orthogonal wave-current interactions in a rectangular numerical wave basin[J]. Advances in Bridge Engineering, 2024, 5(1): 17.
[20] Jain S, Bora S N.Impact of two vertical porous barriers in reflection of water waves and mitigation of wave forces on a rigid floating structure with consideration of uniform current over a porous sea-bed[J]. International Journal of Applied Mechanics, 2024, 16(4): 2450049.
[21] 郝佳姝. 铰接塔平台的动力响应分析[D]. 哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工程大学, 2008.
Hao J S.The dynamic response of an articulated tower[D]. Harbin: Harbin Engineering University, 2008.
[22] 高文. 浅海海底悬空管道动力响应分析及治理[D]. 北京: 中国石油大学(北京), 2010.
Gao W.Analysis and Control of Dynamic Response of Suspended Pipeline in Shallow Seas[D]. Beijing: China University of Petroleum (Beijing), 2010.