A comparative fatigue reliability study for key structural components of offshore wind turbines

Abstract

In this paper, the fatigue reliability of blade root and tower base of a jacket wind turbine, the OC4 semi-submersible wind turbine and a land-based wind turbine is investigated and compared. The fatigue reliability of mooring line and key tubular members of the semi-submersible floater of the OC4 wind turbine is also investigated. The main uncertainties associated with the fatigue reliability analysis are highlighted and estimated. The reliability level of blade root, tower base, mooring line and key tubular members of the OC4 wind turbine corresponding to different design fatigue factors is estimated. The main parameters influencing the fatigue reliability analysis of the key structural components of the OC4 wind turbine are identified. The applicability of reliability analysis method on the structural design of offshore wind turbines is highlighted through the analysis performed in this paper.