Time Domain Fatigue Life Analysis of Offshore Jacket Structure

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Wei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Support Structure ◽  
Structural Fatigue ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Fatigue Life Analysis ◽  
Stress Concentration Factors ◽  
The Time Domain

Abstract Offshore wind system encountered wind, wave, current, soil, and other environmental loads. The support structure is randomly loaded for a long time, which is more likely to cause fatigue damage. In this paper, the NREL 5MW wind turbine and OC4 jacket support structure is selected to perform the time domain fatigue analysis. Commercial software Bladed and SACS are used to perform the required structural responses and fatigue strength calculations. The Stress Concentration Factors (SCF) and S-N curves for the stress calculations of tubular joints are adopted based on the recommendation of DNV GL guidelines. The magnitude of the stress variation range and the corresponding number of counts are obtained by using the rain-flow counting algorithm. Finally, the Palmgren-Miner’s rule is adopted to calculate the cumulative damage ratio and the fatigue life can then be estimated. Fatigue damage ratio and structural fatigue life of each joint during 20 years of operation period are evaluated.

A Fast and Practical Method for Predicting the Fatigue Life of Offshore Wind Turbine Jacket Support Structures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoshuai Han ◽  
Yongliang Ma ◽  
Xianqiang Qu ◽  
Peijiang Qin ◽  
Binbin Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Wave Loads ◽  
Support Structures

Fatigue assessment is a very important part in the design process of offshore wind turbine support structures subjected to wind and wave loads. Fully coupled time domain simulations due to wind and wave loads can potentially provide reliable fatigue predictions, however, it will take high computational effort to carry out fatigue analysis of the simultaneous wind and wave response of the support structure in time domain. For convenience and reducing computational efforts, a fast and practical method is proposed for predicting the fatigue life of offshore wind turbine jacket support structures. Wind induced fatigue is calculated in the time domain using ANSYS based on rainflow counting, and wave induced fatigue is computed in frequency domain using SACS based on a linear spectral analysis. Fatigue damage of X-joints and K-joints under combined environmental loads of wind and wave is estimated by using the proposed method. To verify the accuracy of the proposed formula, fatigue damage based on time domain rainflow cycle counting is calculated and can be considered as a reference. It is concluded that the proposed method provides reasonable fatigue damage predictions and can be adopted for evaluating the combined fatigue damage due to wind and wave loads in offshore wind turbine.

Structural Connection Fatigue Evaluation Methodology Using Time Domain Approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sagar Samaria ◽  
Bob Zhang ◽  
Sudhakar Tallavajhula ◽  
Johyun Kyoung
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Stress Range ◽  
Repair Work ◽  
Structural Fatigue ◽  
Structural Connections ◽  
Structural Connection

Abstract There is an ever-increasing demand for life extension of existing floating platforms worldwide. To adequately support these life extension projects there is a need to predict fatigue life of floating structures more accurately using a time domain approach. However, structural fatigue damage calculations using time domain response analysis can be very time consuming and challenging. An efficient and effective structural analysis methodology is developed to calculate accumulated fatigue damage for structural connections in a floating offshore platform using a response-based time domain routine. The methodology discussed in this paper can be applied to estimate fatigue life for hull critical connections in floaters such as Spars, TLPs or Semis as well as local structural supports such as mooring foundations and riser foundations. It also provides the option to generate stress histograms that can be utilized for Fracture Mechanics Evaluation (FME) of welds in structural connections. To calculate the accumulated fatigue damage at desired locations on a floating platform, the time domain analysis employs a Stress Intensification Factor (SIF) which correlates global loads with local stresses. In cases where a crack initiation is observed on a structural connection, fracture mechanics is used to evaluate the structural integrity of the weld. The FME requires fatigue stress range histograms as one of the input parameters. The stress ranges and cycles that are calculated and used to compute the fatigue damage using this methodology can be converted to stress range histograms which can then be used in the FME. The standard method to compute fatigue damage for a structural connection is by using an S-N fatigue approach under the assumption of linear cumulative damage (Palmgren-Miner rule). The methodology discussed in this paper uses a rainflow counting algorithm to effectively calculate the stress range and cycles which are then utilized for computing the fatigue damage. This methodology can be applied to green field projects involving a new design or for life of field studies of an existing platform requiring life extensions. It is particularly beneficial for brownfield projects where more accurate re-evaluation of fatigue life is needed. It can also provide Clients with reliable Engineering Criticality Assessments (ECA) and enable them to plan in-service inspections and repair work. As an application, a typical truss connection for a Spar platform is used to evaluate structural fatigue damage and generate the stress range histogram for FME. Also, a comparative study is performed for a typical truss connection fatigue damage result between the traditional approach used and the method discussed in this paper.

scholarly journals Fatigue Life Prediction of a Drag Link by Using Finite Element Method

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barıs¸ Koca ◽  
Bu¨lent Ekici
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Method ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Life Analysis ◽  
Fatigue Life Analysis ◽  
The Time Domain ◽  
Drag Link ◽  
Element Method

The focus of this study is to find fatigue behavior and fatigue life of a drag link in the different road and loading conditions. Finite element method was used for fatigue analysis and fatigue life of the drag link was predicted. Firstly, the historical changes in the concept of the fatigue and fatigue life calculation methods were explained in the chapter one and two. Factor affecting the fatigue performance was explained. Stress and strain based fatigue analysis methods were described clearly. Finally, fatigue life analysis in the frequency domain which is a new method relative to the others was explained. Then, two different steering drag links of a midibus were examined and fatigue life calculations of these two drag links were made. The fatigue life analysis in the time domain of the drag links were made in the static steering conditions and the results were compared with the test results made by the vendor of the drag links. After that, the drag link which has a greater fatigue life than the other was selected, the road loads were taken from another test report which was made by using the same drag link and the fatigue life of the drag link was computed by using the finite element method in the time domain. Finally, the same road loads were converted in the frequency domain and the fatigue life analysis of the same drag link were made in the frequency domain. The results from the time domain and the frequency domain were compared and the advantages of the fatigue life analysis in the frequency domain were expressed.

Calibration of Long-Term Time-Domain Load Generation for Fatigue Life Assessment of Offshore Wind Turbine

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Nelson ◽  
Yann Quéméner ◽  
Tsung-Yueh Lin ◽  
Hsin-Haou Huang ◽  
Chi-Yu Chien
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Wind Loads ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine

This study evaluated, by time-domain simulations, the fatigue life of the jacket support structure of a 3.6 MW wind turbine operating in Fuhai Offshore Wind Farm. The long-term statistical environment was based on a preliminary site survey that served as the basis for a convergence study for an accurate fatigue life evaluation. The wave loads were determined by the Morison equation, executed via the in-house HydroCRest code, and the wind loads on the wind turbine rotor were calculated by an unsteady BEM method. A Finite Element model of the wind turbine was built using Beam elements. However, to reduce the time of computation, the hot spot stress evaluation combined FE-derived Closed-Form expressions of the nominal stresses at the tubular joints and stress concentration factors. Finally, the fatigue damage was assessed using the Rainflow Counting scheme and appropriate SN curves. Based on a preliminary sensitivity study of the fatigue damage prediction, an optimal load setting of 60-min short-term environmental conditions with one-second time steps was selected. After analysis, a sufficient fatigue strength was identified, but further calculations involving more extensive long-term data measurements are required in order to confirm these results. Finally, this study highlighted the sensitivity of the fatigue life to the degree of fluctuation (standard deviation) of the wind loads, as opposed to the mean wind loads, as well as the importance of appropriately orienting the jacket foundations according to prevailing wind and wave conditions.

Evaluating the Coupledness of the Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics on the Estimation of Fatigue Damage Equivalent Load for a Floating Offshore Wind Platform

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Kanner ◽  
Bingbin Yu
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Coupled Analysis ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Wave Conditions ◽  
Equivalent Load ◽  
The Waves

In this research, the estimation of the fatigue life of a semi-submersible floating offshore wind platform is considered. In order to accurately estimate the fatigue life of a platform, coupled aerodynamic-hydrodynamic simulations are performed to obtain dynamic stress values. The simulations are performed at a multitude of representative environmental states, or “bins,” which can mimic the conditions the structure may endure at a given site, per ABS Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Installation guidelines. To accurately represent the variety of wind and wave conditions, the number of environmental states can be of the order of 103. Unlike other offshore structures, both the wind and wave conditions must be accounted for, which are generally considered independent parameters, drastically increasing the number of states. The stress timeseries from these simulations can be used to estimate the damage at a particular location on the structure by using commonly accepted methods, such as the rainflow counting algorithm. The damage due to either the winds or the waves can be estimated by using a frequency decomposition of the stress timeseries. In this paper, a similar decoupled approach is used to attempt to recover the damages induced from these coupled simulations. Although it is well-known that a coupled, aero-hydro analysis is necessary in order to accurately simulate the nonlinear rigid-body motions of the platform, it is less clear if the same statement could be made about the fatigue properties of the platform. In one approach, the fatigue damage equivalent load is calculated independently from both scatter diagrams of the waves and a rose diagram of the wind. De-coupled simulations are performed to estimate the response at an all-encompassing range of environmental conditions. A database of responses based on these environmental conditions is constructed. The likelihood of occurrence at a case-study site is used to compare the damage equivalent from the coupled simulations. The OC5 platform in the Borssele wind farm zone is used as a case-study and the damage equivalent load from the de-coupled methods are compared to those from the coupled analysis in order to assess these methodologies.

Estimating interannual variability arising from weather events

2001 ◽  
Vol 38 (A) ◽  
pp. 274-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaogu Zheng ◽  
James Renwick
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Estimation Procedure ◽  
Frequency Domain Method ◽  
Domain Method ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Time Domain

The advantages and limitations of frequency domain and time domain methods for estimating the interannual variability arising from day-to-day weather events are summarized. A modification of the time domain method is developed and its application in examining a precondition for the frequency domain method is demonstrated. A combined estimation procedure is proposed: it takes advantage of the strengths of both methods. The estimation procedures are tested with sets of synthetic data and are applied to long time series of three meteorological parameters. The impacts of the different methods on tests of potential long-range predictability for seasonal means are also discussed.

Key Contributors to Lifetime Accumulated Fatigue Damage in an Offshore Wind Turbine Support Structure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emil Smilden ◽  
Erin E. Bachynski ◽  
Asgeir J. Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Time Domain Analysis ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Wave Loads ◽  
Support Structure ◽  
Wear And Tear ◽  
Collateral Effects

A simulation study is performed to identify the key contributors to lifetime accumulated fatigue damage in the support-structure of a 10 MW offshore wind turbine placed on a monopile foundation in 30 m water depth. The relative contributions to fatigue damage from wind loads, wave loads, and wind/wave misalignment are investigated through time-domain analysis combined with long-term variations in environmental conditions. Results show that wave loads are the dominating cause of fatigue damage in the support structure, and that environmental condtions associated with misalignment angle > 45° are insignificant with regard to the lifetime accumulated fatigue damage. Further, the results are used to investigate the potential of event-based use of control strategies developed to reduce fatigue loads through active load mitigation. Investigations show that a large reduction in lifetime accumulated fatigue damage is possible, enabling load mitigation only in certain situations, thus limiting collateral effects such as increased power fluctuations, and wear and tear of pitch actuators and drive-train components.

A New Quasi-Static Cylindrical Roller Bearing Model to Accurately Consider Non-Hertzian Contact Pressure in Time Domain Simulations

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Kabus ◽  
Michael R. Hansen ◽  
Ole Ø. Mouritsen
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Roller Bearing ◽  
Rolling Bearing ◽  
Elastic Half Space ◽  
Hertzian Contact ◽  
Fatigue Life Analysis ◽  
Cylindrical Roller Bearing ◽  
Six Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Cylindrical Roller

The accuracy of the fatigue life calculations in rolling bearing simulations is highly dependent on the precision of the roller-raceway contact simulations. Several different methods exist to simulate these pressure distributions and in time domain bearing simulations, where many contacts need evaluation, the simple and time efficient methods are more popular, yielding erroneous life estimates. This paper presents a new six degree of freedom frictionless quasi-static time domain cylindrical roller bearing model that uses high precision elastic half-space theory to simulate the contact pressures. The potentially higher computational demand using the advanced contact calculations is addressed by preprocessing a series of contacts at different centerline approaches and roller tilt angles, which are used for interpolating contact results during time domain simulations. It is demonstrated that this new model allows for simulation of bearing misalignments, roller centrifugal forces, and flange contact induced roller tilt moments, and that the effect of these conditions is directly evaluated in a detailed fatigue life analysis. Finally, the stiffness of the bearing model is validated against existing experimental data with good correlation.

Direct Calculation of Fatigue Damage of Ship Structure Details

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Li ◽  
Jonas W. Ringsberg
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Direct Calculation ◽  
Fatigue Analysis ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Stress Concentration Factors ◽  
Rainflow Counting ◽  
Global And Local

Fatigue assessment of ships using the direct calculation approach has been investigated by numerous researchers. Normally, this approach is carried out as either a global model analysis, or as a local model structural analysis. The current investigation presents a case study of a container vessel where the global and local analyses procedures are combined. A nonlinear time-domain hydrodynamic analysis followed by a global FE analysis is employed to screen for the most severe locations of the global ship’s hull with regard to fatigue damage. Once these locations have been identified, a sub-modelling technique is employed to transfer global loads from the global FE model to local FE models that have high resolution of elements for local structure details. Results from a selection of local FE model simulations are presented. Stress concentration factors at four critical locations are calculated and compared with values recommended by classification guidelines. Results are presented from a short-term fatigue analysis which has been carried out using the rainflow counting method. Finally, a long-term fatigue analysis is performed in time-domain using a designed wave scatter diagram of representative sea states.

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