Design Optimization of Conical Concrete Support Structure for Offshore Wind Turbine

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 18; p. 4876
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun-Gi, Kim, Bum-Joon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Concrete; Concrete structures; conical concrete support structure (CCSS); Design; Design analysis; Design optimization; Dynamic stability; Dynamic structural analysis; Earthquake loads; Earthquakes; Feasibility studies; fluid–soil–structure interaction (FSI); Frequency analysis; Offshore; Offshore energy sources; Offshore operations; Offshore structures; offshore wind turbine; Performance evaluation; Post-tensioning; Pressure distribution; Prestressed concrete; prestressed concrete design; Prestressing; Prestressing steels; Resonant frequencies; Rigidity; Seismic activity; seismic analysis; Soil water; Soil-structure interaction; Soils; Stability analysis; Stress concentration; Structural analysis; Structural stability; Turbines; Wind power; Denmark; Europe
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en13184876

Various types of support structures for offshore wind turbine have been developed, and concrete structures have attracted attention due to many advantages. Although many studies have been conducted on the design of the existing steel structures, information and research on the design of concrete support structures are insufficient. Therefore, in this paper, a structural analysis model of conical concrete support structure (CCSS) is established and design optimization is presented. A detailed performance evaluation and the design of prestressed concrete were performed under the marine conditions of Phase 1 test site of southwest offshore wind project in Korea. The fluid–soil–structure interaction (FSI) was applied using the added mass method and soil spring model to represent the effects of water and soil. With the result of quasi-static analysis, a post-tensioning design was implemented by applying prestressing steel, and CCSS showed sufficient rigidity. From the natural frequency analysis, CCSS has a dynamic structural stability, and, in response spectrum and time-history analyses, the CCSS was safe enough under the earthquake loads. The methods and conclusions of this study can provide a theoretical reference for the structural analysis and design of concrete support structures for offshore wind turbines.