Validation of a lumped-mass mooring line model with DeepCwind semisubmersible model test data

This paper introduces a lumped-mass mooring line model and validates it against scale-model floating offshore wind turbine test data. The mooring model incorporates axial elasticity, hydrodynamic loading via Morison׳s equation, and bottom contact. It neglects bending and torsional stiffnesses for the sake of computation speed. A coupling with the floating wind turbine simulator FAST allows simulation of complete floating wind turbine systems including mooring dynamics. The DeepCwind semisubmersible floating wind turbine design was simulated and the results compared with data from previously-published 1:50-scale experiments. Uncoupled simulations in which the fairlead motions are prescribed according to the test data show very good agreement in fairlead tensions; predicted fatigue and extreme loads match the test data to within 10% and snap load conditions are predicted consistently. When the mooring model is coupled with FAST to simulate the entire floating wind turbine system, the fairlead tensions and the platform heave response are underpredicted relative to the test data, suggesting a limitation of the platform hydrodynamic model. In all cases, using a quasi-static mooring model significantly underpredicts the mooring loads, especially for fatigue. In general, the results suggest that the lumped-mass mooring model is suitable for predicting mooring line loads of the DeepCwind semisubmersible. •Development of a computationally-efficient lumped-mass mooring line model.•Verification of model with 1:50-scale floating wind turbine test data.•Coupling of mooring model with industry-standard floating wind turbine code FAST.•Small (10–15%) increase in overall computation time when used in FAST simulations.