海上风机固定式基础波流力特征试验研究

Experimental study on wave-current force characteristics of fixed foundations for offshore wind turbines

  • 摘要: 目前海上风机基础波流力研究多以单桩基础为对象,所模拟对象多为忽略附属构件、直径恒定的光滑圆柱,且模拟的海况多为忽略潮流的单纯波浪,而实际海洋环境中,海上风机基础所受水动力除了波浪作用外还有持续的海流作用,以及不断变化的水深。单桩基础、高桩承台多适用于水深较浅海域,随着海上风电工程向深远海发展,适应深水海域的导管架基础也逐渐得到广泛建设。为了解实际海况下海上风机不同基础的波流力特征,以带附属构件的海上风机3种固定式基础(单桩、高桩承台、导管架)为研究对象,通过物理模型试验研究在波浪和海流联合作用下,波高、水深、波流夹角对3种基础所受波流力的影响,并将试验值和Morison公式计算值进行比较。结果表明:(1)在波流联合作用下,波高、水深、波流夹角对各种基础的总水平力影响程度各有不同,波高影响最为显著,其次是水深和波流夹角;(2)最大总水平力出现在波流存在一定夹角时,这可能是和附属构件的影响有关。在实际工程设计中波流力的计算主要使用Morison公式,通过将试验值和Morison公式波流同向计算值的比较,引入波流夹角放大系数,该系数单桩、高桩承台、导管架分别为1.23、1.14、1.17,既可保证结构设计的安全,同时又不过于保守。研究结果对复杂波流环境的结构优化设计具有指导意义。

     

    Abstract: At present, research on the wave and current forces acting on offshore wind turbine foundations mostly focuses on monopiles, with simulation models often simplified as smooth cylinders of constant diameter that neglect ancillary components. Moreover, simulated sea conditions are typically limited to simple waves that disregard currents. However, in actual marine environments, offshore wind turbine foundations are subjected not only to wave action but also to continuous ocean currents, with the directions of waves and ocean currents forming constantly changing angles, and the water depth is constantly changing. While monopiles are predominantly utilized in shallow waters, the expansion of offshore wind power projects into deeper waters has led to the increasing prevalence of high pile cap and jacket foundations, which are more suitable for deep-water areas are also becoming increasingly prevalent. To understand the wave-current force characteristics of different foundations of offshore wind turbines under actual sea conditions, this study takes three types of fixed foundations (monopile, high pile cap, and jacket), including attached components, as research objects. The effects of wave height, water depth, and wave-current angle on the forces acting on these three foundations under combined wave-current action were studied through physical model experiments. The experimental results were then compared with the calculated values derived from the Morison formula. The results show that: (1) Under the combined action of waves and currents, the influence of wave height, water depth, and the angle between wave and current on the total horizontal force of each foundation varies, with wave height having the most significant impact, followed by water depth and then wave-current angle. In general, greater wave height and deeper water depth correspond to larger total horizontal forces on the foundation. The effects of wave height and wave-current angle on the wave-current forces of monopiles are more significant than on high pile caps and jacket foundations, while the influence of water depth on the wave-current force of high pile cap foundations is more pronounced than that on monopiles and jacket foundations. (2) The maximum total horizontal force on the foundation model does not occur when wave and current directions are aligned, but rather when there is a certain angle between them. The wave-current angle corresponding to this maximum force varies under different operating conditions, with the majority occurring at a wave-current angle of approximately 45° or 90°, and a minority at 22.5°. Theoretically, the linear superposition of wave and current forces is greater when the wave and current directions are aligned than when there is an angle between them, but the actual phenomenon does not align with theory. This may be related to the influence of various accessory components of the foundation, since their presence both increases the effective action area of waves and currents on the foundation, and simultaneously causes waves and currents in different directions to couple and superimpose, thereby forming a more complex and enhanced flow field that increases the loads on the foundation. In practical engineering design, the Morison formula is primarily used for calculating wave-current forces. By comparing the experimental results with the Morison formula’s values for wave-current forces in the same direction, a wave-current angle amplification factor is introduced: 1.23, 1.14, and 1.17 for monopile, high pile cap, and jacket foundations, respectively. This factor ensures structural safety without being overly conservative. This article reveals the influence of the wave-current angle on wave–current forces. The maximum horizontal force occurs when there is a certain angle between the wave and the current, which has guiding significance for structural optimization design in complex wave-current environments. By proposing an amplification factor for the wave-current angle based on experimental data, designers can reasonably consider the influence of the angle when calculating wave-current forces, achieving a balance between safety and economy, and avoid overly conservative designs.

     

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