Parametric Curve Comparison for Modeling Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Substructures

The drive for the cost reduction of floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) systems to the levels of fixed bottom foundation turbine systems can be achieved with creative design and analysis techniques of the platform with free-form curves to save numerical simulation time and minimize the mass of steel (cost of steel) required for design. This study aims to compare four parametric free-form curves (cubic spline, B-spline, Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline and cubic Hermite spline) within a design and optimization framework using the pattern search gradient free optimization algorithm to explore and select an optimal design from the design space. The best performance free-form curve within the framework is determined using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The TOPSIS technique shows the B-spline curve as the best performing free-form curve based on the selection criteria, amongst which are design and analysis computational time, estimated mass of platform and local shape control properties. This study shows that free-form curves like B-spline can be used to expedite the design, analysis and optimization of floating platforms and potentially advance the technology beyond the current level of fixed bottom foundations.