Optimization Design of Dynamic Cable Configuration Considering Thermo-Mechanical Coupling Effects

During operation, dynamic cables endure coupled thermo-mechanical loads (mechanical: tension/bending; thermal: power transmission) that degrade stiffness, amplifying extreme responses and impairing configuration optimization. To address this, this study pioneers a multi-objective optimization framework integrating stiffness characteristics from mechanical/thermo-mechanical analyses, with objectives to minimize dynamic extreme tension and curvature under constraints of global configuration variables and safety thresholds. The framework employs a Radial Basis Function (RBF) surrogate model coupled with NSGA-II algorithm, yielding validated Pareto solutions (≤6.15% max error vs. simulations). Results demonstrate universal reduction in extreme responses across optimized configurations, with the thermo-mechanically optimized solution achieving 20.24% fatigue life enhancement. This work establishes the first methodology quantifying thermo-mechanical coupling effects on offshore cable safety and fatigue performance. This configuration design scheme exhibits better safety during actual service conditions.