Dynamic Response of a Floating Cylinder Subjected to Coupled Wave and Wind Loading

The broad objective of the research presented herein is to analyze dynamical interactions in offshore structures under combined wind and wave loads for enhanced power delivery and reliability of hybrid wind-wave generation systems. As an offshore structure representative, a model for an inclined floating cylinder at finite depth is developed employing linear wave theory coupled with wind-induced effects. Although detailed wave models have often been incorporated while studying the dynamics of such cylinders, wind-induced effects have been mostly modeled as an axial drag term that affects the drift of the structure along the wind direction. In this article, the effects of not only wind-induced drag, but also lift and oscillations on the structure (i.e. the floating inclined cylinder) are studied. Further, the effects of vortex shedding are considered. Cross-flow principle is used to calculate the wind loads on the cylinder. Assuming small wave steepness and a large radius of cylinder (in comparison to the wavelength), linear wave diffraction and radiation theory coupled with wind-induced effects is employed to analyze the dynamic response of the inclined floating cylinder. Numerical results on the dynamic response of an inclined floating cylinder subjected to coupled wind-wave loading system are presented and discussed while highlighting the increasing relevance of such modeling strategies for hybrid wind-wave power generation systems and their control.