The present study investigates the effect of scour hole/scour protection to the wave loads on wind turbine foundations. The investigations are carried out numerically partly using WAMIT and partly through fully non-linear 3D CFD computations with DHI's 'NS3' code. WAMIT is a first order potential flow theory code and NS3 has a surface description based on the VOF technique (Volume of Fluid) that allows for describing breaking waves as well as slamming forces. The influence of a scour hole/scour protection is investigated for regular waves. The influence of depth, wave height and wave period is addressed. One case with breaking waves is presented as well. Further, the kinematics inside a scour hole is examined. It is found that the horizontal force increases for a wind turbine foundation with a scour hole, and decreases for a case with scour protection. The effect on overturning moment is the opposite, i.e. smaller for a scour hole case, and larger in case of scour protection.
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