Analytical gradient-based optimization of offshore wind turbine substructures under fatigue and extreme loads

Design optimization of offshore wind turbine support structures is an expensive task due to the highly-constrained, non-convex and non-linear nature of the design problem. A good depth of detail in the problem formulation can give useful insights in the practical design process, but may also compromise the efficiency. This paper presents an analytical gradient-based method to solve the problem in an effective and efficient way. The design sensitivities of the objective and constraint functions are evaluated analytically, while the optimization procedure is performed in the time domain, subjected to sizing, eigenfrequency, extreme load and fatigue load constraints. A case study on the OC4 and UpWind jacket substructures show that the method was reliable and consistent in delivering superior efficiency and accuracy in the optimization study, as compared with the conventional finite difference approach. The global optimum was probably achieved in the design optimization process, where the large number of design constraints implemented can possibly be the blessing in disguise, as they seem to enable the optimizer to find the global optimum. Both the buckling and fatigue load constraints had significant influence over the design of tubular members and joints, while each component is oriented to maximize the utilization against the prescribed limit state functions. •A gradient-based optimization algorithm based on analytical sensitivity derivatives is proposed for OWT structural design.•The method is studied for offshore jacket substructures with and without consideration of joint cans in legs and braces.•The method shows superior efficiency and accuracy in converging to an optimal design than conventional approaches.•A multi-start strategy based on the analytical gradient-based optimizer is used to find the global optimum.•Buckling and fatigue load constraints have significant influence on the design of tubular members and joints.