SDSS 2025

Seismic Demands on Large-Scale Steel Jacket-Supported Offshore Wind Turbines

  • Khalil, Zeyad (Imperial College London)
  • Stafford, Peter (Imperial College London)
  • Elghazouli, Ahmed (Imperial College London)

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Offshore wind is currently considered as a key contributor of renewable energy production globally, where offshore wind farms are now being constructed in seismically active regions worldwide, along with ambitious future expansion plans in countries of moderate to high seismic activity. Long-term data regarding the performance of large-scale offshore wind turbines under earthquake loading is still lacking which urges the need to understand the detailed behaviour of this type of structures under such events. This study provides insights into the maximum drift and acceleration demands on large-scale steel jacket-supported offshore turbines, which have received little attention in the literature compared to monopile-supported turbines, using a risk-based approach. A four-legged, x-braced reference jacket steel structure supporting a 10 MW turbine constructed in a layered sand soil profile and located in a reference site of moderate to high seismicity is studied using response time history analysis. Particular focus is given to the associated hazard-consistent ground motion selection methodology required for the proper evaluation of the response of the structural system response at different seismic intensity levels where the hazard is driven by different source types. Finally, maximum acceleration and drift demand hazard curves are presented which can aid in further damage and loss assessments of such structures.