A state-of-the-art review on local fatigue design of support structures for offshore wind turbines

Abstract

The scientific community is devoting more attention to the wide scope of offshore wind turbine structures. Since such structures are subjected to high level of fatigue loads as well as a large number of load cycles caused by wind, waves and turbine operation, the fatigue performance of welded connections is usually a design driving criteria. In this paper, a brief revision on load simulation and strength analysis procedures as well as local fatigue design methods of support structures for offshore wind turbines is presented. In order to face some of the challenges in this area of expertise, a research project is introduced, aiming to exploit residual capacities in the fatigue design of tubular joints of support structures for offshore wind turbines.