Design of Jack-Up Platform for 6 MW Wind Turbine: Parametric Analysis Based Dimensioning of Platform Legs

The article presents the results of the research conducted within the framework of the project entitled WIND-TU-PLA (ERA-NET, MARTEC II), the general aim of which was to design and analyse supporting structures for wind turbines intended for operation on the South Baltic area. The research part described in the article aimed at developing a preliminary design for a jack-up platform which can operate on water areas with depth of 40 m. The main task was to determine optimal dimensions of platform legs and the radius of their spacing. Two jack-up platform concepts differing by spacing radius and hull dimensions were designed with the intention to be used as a supporting structure for a 6-MW offshore wind turbine. For each concept, the parametric analysis was performed to determine optimal dimensions of platform legs (diameter Dleg and plating thickness tleg). Relevant calculations were performed to assess the movements of the platform with parameters given in Table 1 in conditions simulating the action of the most violent storm in recent 50 years. The obtained results, having the form of amplitudes of selected physical quantities, are shown in comprehensive charts in Fig. 6 and 7. Based on the critical stress values (corresponding to the yield stress), the area was defined in which the impact strength conditions are satisfied (Fig. 14).

Then, the fatigue strength analysis was performed for two selected critical leg nodes (Fig. 12). Its results were used for defining the acceptable area with respect to structure’s fatigue (Fig. 14). Geometric parameters were determined which meet the adopted criteria, Table 6. The decisive criterion turned out to be the fatigue strength criterion, while the yield point criterion appeared to be an inactive constraint.