A comparison of calibration and validation of FAST code numerical models of the DeepCwind floating wind turbine systems with 1:50 scale tank data

Published: 2013

Author(s):
Jain, A.
Robertson, A.
Jonkman, J.
Goupee, A. J.
Swift, A.

Publication Name: Proceedings of ISOPE 2013, The 23rd International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference

Publication URL: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/68080.pdf

Research Area:
Keywords:
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Abstract:

During the course of the Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration, Continued, with Correlation (OC5) project, which focused on the validation of numerical methods through comparison against tank test data, the authors created a numerical FAST model of the 1:50-scale DeepCwind semisubmersible system that was tested at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands ocean basin in 2013. This paper discusses several model calibration studies that were conducted to identify model adjustments that improve the agreement between the numerical simulations and the experimental test data. These calibration studies cover wind-field–specific parameters (coherence, turbulence), hydrodynamic and aerodynamic modeling approaches, as well as rotor model (blade-pitch and blade-mass imbalances) and tower model (structural tower damping coefficient) adjustments. These calibration studies were conducted based on relatively simple calibration load cases (wave only/wind only). The agreement between the final FAST model and experimental measurements is then assessed based on more- complex combined wind and wave validation cases.