A comprehensive numerical investigation of the impact behaviour of an offshore wind turbine blade due to impact loads during installation

Abstract

For installing offshore wind turbines into deep waters, use of floating crane vessels is essential. One of the major challenges is their sensitivity to wave-induced vessel and crane tip motions, which can cause the impact of lifted components like blades and nacelle with nearby structures. The impact loads on fibre composite wind turbine blades are critical as several complex damage modes, capable of affecting the structural integrity, are …