Wave Force Characteristics of Large-Sized Offshore Wind Support Structures to Sea Levels and Wave Conditions

Abstract

This paper presents the results of wave force tests conducted on three types of offshore support structures considering eight waves and three sea levels to investigate the corresponding wave forces. As a result of this study, it is found that the occurrence of shoaling in shallow water induces a significant increase of the wave force. Most of the test models at the shallow water undergo a nonlinear increase of the wave force with higher wave height increasing. In addition, the larger the diameter of the support structure within the range of this study, the larger the diffraction effect is, and the increase in wave force due to shoaling is suppressed. Under an irregular wave at the shallow water, the wave force to the long-period wave tends to be slightly higher than that of the short period wave since the higher wave height component included in the irregular wave has an influence on the shoaling. In addition, it is found that the influence of shoaling under irregular wave becomes more apparent in the long period.