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.
PO170: Digital twin for floating offshore wind platforms: Industrial test-case in construction and wet storage of a reinforced concrete platform
Diogo Ferreira, Offshore Project Engineer, WavEC Offshore Renewables
Abstract
Reinforced concrete platforms are emerging as a competitive alternative to steel for floating offshore wind, offering advantages in cost, durability, and regional manufacturing. However, deployment is still limited by uncertainty in structural behaviour, hydrodynamic response, and long-term durability, especially under real-world environmental conditions. These concerns are compounded by evolving certification frameworks that require reliable, high-resolution data for validation. To address these challenges, a digital twin was deployed to support the construction and storage of a pre-tensioned floating concrete platform prototype. This work focuses on its application to process monitoring and engineering decision-making, while a separate work describes the underlying software infrastructure. Two sensor stations provided in-situ telemetry. The harbour station monitored metocean, weather, and underwater acoustics. The platform station captured strain on tendons, rebar and concrete, internal temperature and humidity, mooring line tension, and GNSS-based position and attitude. Sensor data and mathematical models fed real-time web dashboards featuring 3D CAD overlays, time-series plots, and system health indicators. The monitored asset was a 1,300-tonne, three-leg semi-submersible platform constructed in the Sado River estuary using sliding formwork over a two-month period. Temperature maps and time-series guided concrete pouring and formwork movement, helping avoid cold joints. Operation scheduling tools combined forecasts and task constraints to generate Gantt charts aligned with weather windows. Strain gauges were installed in critical locations identified via finite element simulation, and a load cell was placed at one mooring line padeye. Near-real-time stress monitoring enabled safe float-off and towing, with no exceedance of design limits. Humidity sensors inside the floaters further confirmed the absence of water ingress due to fissuring. This work demonstrates how a production-grade digital twin can support engineering oversight, validate design assumptions, and reduce construction risk, which is particularly relevant for concrete-based platforms that have yet to achieve widespread adoption.
No recording available for this poster.
