Dynamic behaviors of operational floating offshore wind turbines subjected to ship collisions

Abstract

With the rapid development of offshore wind industry, the collision between ships and floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) has emerged as a substantial concern. However, research on this topic remains scarce. To address this gap, this study carries out refined finite element (FE) analyses to investigate the dynamic responses of operational FOWTs subjected to ship collisions. A 3000 DWT carrier with a mass of 4000 tons is selected as the striking object. Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic effects are incorporated via a coupled procedure. The model is validated by comparing its results with previous studies and benchmarks. Key parameters, including impact velocity, plate thickness, wind direction, and wind velocity, are examined to assess their influence on collision dynamics. Results reveal a multi-phase collision process between the ship and FOWT, with energy predominantly exchanged in the primary collision phase. Distinct collision modes and structural damage under varying impact velocities and plate thicknesses are observed. Damage to both the ship and FOWT correlates with wind direction, whereas wind velocity has a limited effect on the dynamic responses of the FOWT. These findings provide valuable insights into the collision behavior of FOWTs, contributing to their design and safety assessment in offshore environments.