Study on wave slamming characteristics of a typical floating wind turbine under freak waves

Freak waves can cause serious damage to offshore structures because of their characteristics of high peak energy, short duration, and great contingency. In this study, the slamming pressure characteristics of a typical floating wind turbine under freak waves are studied by numerical simulation and experiment. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is used to establish the numerical tank. The experimental test of a typical float wind turbine is implemented at Jiangsu University of Science and Technology. The numerical model of a floating wind turbine system is modified based on an experimental test. The slamming characteristics of a floating wind turbine under the freak wave are studied using the modified numerical model. The combined wave focusing model and the push pedal wave-making theory are adopted to simulate the freak wave. Results show that the slamming pressure of a floating wind turbine under a freak wave is much larger than that under a conventional random wave with the same significant wave height. Meanwhile, the evident phenomenon of double-peak slamming is observed in the wave slamming of the floating wind turbine. The impact period at different locations varies although the floating wind turbine is a monolithic structure.