TECHNOLOGY QUALIFICATION OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE SUPPORTING CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS: MITIGATION OF FUTURE CATASTROPHIC INCIDENTS VIA QUANTIFICATION OF UNKNOWN

摘要

Understanding the uncertainty associated with the use of new technology and defining the risk of a particular new technology are crucial in its deployment. A systematic risk-based technology qualification (TQ) process enables technology developers to build confidence and systematically document the performance of new technology. The quantification of risk associated with a particular new technology is fulfilled by analysis, using computer-based models, testing, gathering operational data from the field and developing procedures. The TQ enables the potential unwanted events that could result in catastrophic incidents to be investigated, and it subsequently develops tests or analyses that are specific to the identified threats. A systematic approach to TQ provides the quantitative data necessary for making the business case to deploy the technology. This manuscript illustrates a methodology for the TQ of concrete components in offshore wind turbines. For instance, a typical utility-scale offshore wind turbine tower is made of steel tubes that are significantly efficient; the steel towers become rapidly more expensive beyond a certain height, as it is required meet the dynamic characteristic of the turbine to meet the necessary high level of standards for fatigue performance. Although the concrete towers allow more fabrication flexibility, as the design is less driven by fatigue and the use of concrete allows them to be partially or fully fabricated in the field, it is vital to develop risk based TQ methodology to quantify the unknowns.