Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
PO153: Digital twin for floating offshore wind platforms: From hydrodynamic and structural models to real build decisions
Mário Vieira, Renewable Energy Specialist, WavEC Offshore Renewables
Abstract
Concrete platforms are being reconsidered as a cost-competitive and lower-carbon alternative to steel for floating offshore wind. Their durability and potential for local manufacturing are attractive, but questions remain on how to design them for reliable operations. This work shows how simulation can guide critical design choices-prestressing strategies, reinforcement detailing, and steel–concrete connections-that determine performance under real operational conditions. A combined hydrodynamic–structural workflow was applied to a semi-submersible concrete floater, coupling diffraction analysis with nonlinear finite element simulations. Different design options were tested: no prestress on concrete, horizontal and vertical prestressing, combined prestress, and the addition of constraint steel beams between the floaters. Instead of focusing on raw stress numbers, the results highlight where risks concentrate (pontoon corners, column junctions), how load paths change with different measures, and which strategies deliver the best improvement for constructability and reliability. Key insights include: horizontal prestress delivers the biggest impact for pontoons; vertical prestress helps at column interfaces; combined prestress reduces global levels but needs careful detailing to avoid new hotspots; steel beams are viable if joint anchorage is engineered properly; and geometry refinements such as chamfers consistently cut risk at low cost. Because this workflow was applied to a platform under construction, the results directly inform the design stage with real-world relevance. The same model is being integrated into a digital twin under development, ensuring that lessons from design carry forward into operation and lifecycle monitoring.
No recording available for this poster.
