Strength analysis of pile leg structure of offshore wind installation vessel under combined wind, wave, and current loads

Abstract With the increasing demand for renewable energy, offshore wind farms have gained significant attention as a sustainable power generation solution. The installation of wind turbines in deep waters requires specialized vessels equipped with sturdy leg structures to provide stability during the installation process. This study focuses on the strength assessment of the leg structure of a wind turbine installation vessel. The objective of this research is to evaluate the strength of the vessel’s leg structure under Combined Wind, Wave, and Current Loads, which refers to the rules and regulations of Bureau Veritas. Finite element analysis (FEA) is employed to simulate the structural behavior and determine the distribution of stress within the legs. The computational results indicate that the structural strength of the wind turbine installation vessel in this paper meets the requirements of the Bureau Veritas classification society. The maximum stress is 440.08 MPa, and the load direction is 270 degrees. The maximum stress occurs at the upper part of the pile leg at the crane position. This is due to the combination of local stress caused by the operation of the 3200-ton crane located on the starboard side near the stern and the overall stress of the entire ship. Researchers should pay special attention to this issue.