TY - JOUR A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Faber, M.H. A1 - Rücker, Werner T1 - Ultimate limit state model basis for assessment of offshore wind energy converters N2 - This paper establishes the model basis regarding the ultimate limit state consisting of structural, loading, and probabilistic models of the support structure of offshore wind energy converters together with a sensitivity study. The model basis is part of a risk based assessment and monitoring framework and will be applied for establishing the 'as designed and constructed' reliability as prior information for the assessment and as a basis for designing a monitoring system. The model basis is derived considering the constitutive physical equations and the methodology of solving these which then in combination with the ultimate limit state requirements leads to the specific constitutive relations. As a result finite element models based on shell elements incorporating a structural and a loading model are introduced and described in detail. Applying these models the ultimate capacity of the support structure and the tripod structure are determined with a geometrically and materially nonlinear finite element analysis. The observed failure mechanisms are the basis for the definition of the ultimate limit state responses. A probabilistic model accounting for the uncertainties involved is derived on the basis of literature review and measurement data from a prototype Multibrid M5000 support structure. In combination with the developed structural and loading models, sensitivity analyses in regard to the responses are performed to enhance the understanding and to refine the developed models. To this end, as the developed models necessitate substantial numerical efforts for the probabilistic response analysis predetermined designs of numerical experiments are applied for the calculation of the sensitivities using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. With this quantification of the sensitivity of the random variables on the responses including nonlinearity the refinement of the model is performed on a quantitative basis. KW - Condition monitoring KW - Failure analysis KW - Finite element analysis KW - Offshore installations KW - Probability KW - Risk analysis KW - Shells (structures) KW - Structural engineering KW - Wind power KW - Model basis KW - Offshore wind KW - Support structure KW - Sensitivity KW - Ultimate limit state PY - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4004513 SN - 0892-7219 VL - 134 IS - 3 SP - 031904-1 - 031904-9 CY - Fairfield, NJ AN - OPUS4-26358 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - McMillan, D. T1 - Condition monitoring benefit for offshore wind turbines T2 - PMAPS 2012 - 12th International conference on Probabilistic Methods Applied to Power Systems CY - Istanbul, Turkey DA - 2012-06-10 KW - Condition monitoring KW - Offshore wind KW - Operation KW - Risk KW - Life cycle KW - Cost KW - Cost benefit analysis KW - Offshore wind turbine KW - Operation management KW - Structural integrity management PY - 2012 SP - 37 EP - 42 AN - OPUS4-26117 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - McMillan, D. ED - Karki, R. ED - Billinton, R. ED - Vermar, A.K. T1 - Condition monitoring benefit for operation support of offshore wind turbines N2 - As more offshore wind parks are commissioned, the focus will inevitably shift from a planning, construction, and warranty focus to an operation, maintenance, and investment payback focus. In this latter case, both short-term risks associated with wind turbine component assemblies, and long-term risks related to integrity of the support structure, are highly important. This research focuses on the role of condition monitoring to lower costs and risks associated with short-term reliability and long-term asset integrity. This enables comparative estimates of the life cycle costs and reduction in uncertainty, both of which are of value to investors. KW - Condition monitoring KW - Offshore wind KW - OperationRisk KW - Life cycle cost PY - 2014 SN - 978-81-322-1797-8 SN - 978-81-322-1798-5 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1798-5_11 N1 - Serientitel: Reliable and sustainable electric power and energy systems management – Series title: Reliable and sustainable electric power and energy systems management SP - 169 EP - 182 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-31275 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -