The University of Tokyo · Engineering
Professor Rodolfo T. Gonçalves's research lab specializes in fluid-structure interaction phenomena in offshore and floating renewable energy systems, with a strong focus on vortex-induced motion (VIM), flow-induced motions (FIM), and the dynamic response of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). The lab conducts experimental and numerical investigations using wave tank testing and advanced signal analysis techniques—such as the Hilbert–Huang transform—to understand nonlinear dynamics, structural flexibility, and fatigue performance of floating platforms. Research directions include the development of cost-effective, lightweight floating wind turbine concepts, particularly those using guyed towers and multi-column semisubmersible designs, and their response under wave and current loading conditions.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
A great deal of works has been developed on the spar vortex-induced motion (VIM) issue. There are, however, very few published works concerning VIM of monocolumn platforms, partly due to the fact that the concept is fairly recent and the first unit was only installed last year. In this context, a meticulous study on VIM for this type of platform concept is presented here. Model test experiments were performed to check the influence of many factors on VIM, such as different headings, wave/current
Vortex-induced motion (VIM) is a specific way for naming the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) acting on floating units. The VIM phenomenon can occur in monocolumn production, storage and offloading system (MPSO) and spar platforms, structures presenting aspect ratio lower than 4 and unity mass ratio, i.e., structural mass equal to the displaced fluid mass. These platforms can experience motion amplitudes of approximately their characteristic diameters, and therefore, the fatigue life of mooring li
A floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) concept with a guy-wire-supported tower was investigated to obtain motion results in waves considering its elastic model characteristics. The FOWT concept studied aims to reduce the construction costs by using a light-weight structure tensioned with guy wires and a downwind type. Wave tank experiments of an elastically similar segmented backbone model in the 1:60 scale were carried out to clarify the dynamic elastic response features of the structure. The
Vortex-induced motion (VIM) is a highly nonlinear dynamic phenomenon. Usual spectral analysis methods, using the Fourier transform, rely on the hypotheses of linear and stationary dynamics. A method to treat nonstationary signals that emerge from nonlinear systems is denoted Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) method. The development of an analysis methodology to study the VIM of a monocolumn production, storage, and offloading system using HHT is presented. The purposes of the present methodology are
Abstract Flow-induced motions (FIM) are an issue for floating offshore structures, such as multi-column platforms, as the phenomenon can decrease the fatigue life of the mooring, riser, and cable systems. The new concept of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) have a multi-column design that may be subjected to FIM. In the past, FIM was studied mainly for Oil & Gas platforms installed in deep waters. However, the FIM phenomenon of FOWT has been insufficiently explored. To rectify this, mod
A tank experiment using a flexible multi-column floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) model in regular waves was carried out to clarify the floater elastic response and its influence on the floater motion. The model motion response from the experiment was compared with the numerical simulations by NK-UTWind and WAMIT codes. The dynamic elastic deformation of the model was also compared between the experiment and NK-UTWind. The experiment observed significant elastic deformation for the decks and
Vortex-induced motions (VIM) of floating structures are very relevant for the design of mooring and riser systems. In the design phase, spar and monocolumn VIM behavior, as well as semisubmersible and tension leg platform flow-induced motions, is studied and evaluated. This paper provides a checklist of topics and evidence from a number of sources to justify the selection that should be considered when designing spars or monocolumn platforms regarding the VIM phenomenon. An overview of the influ
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