Directional Bending Performance of 4-Leg Jacket Substructure Supporting a 3MW Offshore Wind Turbine

A comprehensive investigation of the directional bending performance a 4-leg jacket substructure, supporting 3 MW offshore wind turbine, has been carried out in this study. The substructure with Pratt bracing system which is already installed southwest farm South Korea chosen as reference support structure. numerical model 3MW structure (i.e., tower, transition piece, and structure) configured, its structural performances are evaluated under conditions (1) extreme environmental loads (Env), (2) critical Design Load Cases (DLCs), (3) total 288 combined load cases (CBs). For case Env wind, wave, current loads), loading directions varying from 0° to 360° at intervals 15° considered. DLCs provided turbine manufacturer, 6 × 12 matrix format. selected study showed smallest stiffness angles 135° 315° condition Env, between 105° 150° CBs. From these results, directionality identified. This also found that effects not small compared responses turbine.