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Structural Reliability Assessment of Offshore Wind Turbine Support Structures Subjected to Pitting Corrosion‐Fatigue: A Damage Tolerance Modelling Approach

Shittu, Abdulhakim Adeoye, Mehmanparast, Ali, Shafiee, Mahmood, Kolios, Athanasios, Hart, Phil, Pilario, Karl (2020) Structural Reliability Assessment of Offshore Wind Turbine Support Structures Subjected to Pitting Corrosion‐Fatigue: A Damage Tolerance Modelling Approach. Wind Energy, 23 (11). pp. 2004-2026. ISSN 1095-4244. E-ISSN 1099-1824. (doi:10.1002/we.2542) (KAR id:83272)

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Abstract

The structural integrity of offshore wind turbine (OWT) support structures is affected by one of the most severe damage mechanisms known as pitting corrosion‐fatigue. In this study, the structural reliability of such structures subjected to pitting corrosion‐fatigue is assessed using a damage tolerance modelling approach. A probabilistic model that ascertains the reliability of the structure is presented, incorporating the randomness in cyclic load and corrosive environment as well as uncertainties in shape factor, pit size and aspect ratio. A non‐intrusive formulation is proposed consisting of a sequence of steps. First, a stochastic parametric Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is performed using SMART© crack growth and Design Xplorer© facilities within the software package ANSYS. Secondly, the results obtained from the FEA are processed using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) response surface modelling technique. Finally, the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) is used to calculate the reliability indices of components. The results reveal that for the inherent stochastic conditions, the structure becomes unsafe after the 18th year, before the attainment of the design life of 20 years. The FEA results are in very good agreement with results obtained from analysis steps outlined in design standard BS 7910 and other references designated as ‘theoretical analysis methods’ in this study. The results predict, for the case study, that the pit growth life is approximately 56% of the total pitting corrosion fatigue life. Sensitivity analysis results show that the aspect ratio of pits at critical size plays a significant role on the reliability of the structure.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/we.2542
Uncontrolled keywords: pitting corrosion fatigue; reliability index; non-intrusive formulations, structural reliability analysis, offshore wind structures, artificial neural network
Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > TA165 Engineering instruments, meters etc. Industrial instrumentation
T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > TA401 Materials engineering and construction
T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Engineering and Digital Arts
Depositing User: Mahmood Shafiee
Date Deposited: 05 Oct 2020 08:30 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2023 11:06 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/83272 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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