Predicting Wind Loads on the Topside of a Self-Propelled Wind Turbine Installation Jack-Up Using CFD

This paper presents the results of wind load computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations performed on the topside structures of a self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-up. The CFD calculations were performed for the jack-up topside structures with and without the deck load. An atmospheric boundary layer profile was applied for the model-scale calculations. The full range of heading angles was considered. The CFD results were validated through comparison with the wind tunnel tests which were carried out at the German-Dutch wind tunnels (DNW) in Marknesse, The Netherlands. Moreover, a comparison is presented between the applied boundary layer profiles throughout the CFD computational domain with those profiles measured in the wind tunnel. The CFD results were found to be in good agreement with the wind tunnel tests for the considered cases, verifying the feasibility of the CFD method as an important design tool for the prediction of wind loads during the design processes of these types of jack-ups.