Analysis of the Seabed Contact Effects of Clump Weights on a Floating Offshore Wind Mooring System

The mooring system plays a crucial role in maintaining the position of a floating offshore wind turbine, which significantly influences floater motion. This study investigates the impact of seabed contact and the distribution of the clump weight (CW) along the mooring line on line tension and dynamic response of the floater. Numerical simulations using a floater–mooring coupled dynamic model were conducted to evaluate mooring system performance. Under environmental load conditions, cases were analyzed based on whether the CW was in contact with the seabed. Additionally, for contact cases, further analyses were conducted by distributing the weight of the CW along the mooring line. The results indicate that the repeated seabed contact of the CW increases tension fluctuations, which thereby accelerates fatigue damage and shortens the design life of the mooring system. However, distributing the CW along the mooring line effectively reduces tension fluctuations while maintaining the motion response of the floater. To enhance the stability and lifespan of the mooring system, careful consideration of the CW–seabed interaction and the implementation of an optimized CW distribution strategy are essential.