Session: 01-06-01CFD & Numerical Methods - I

Submission Number: 156952

Wake Dynamics and Vortex Interaction Around Tripile Foundations for Offshore Wind Turbines 

The complex interaction of wake dynamics around tripile foundations for offshore wind turbines is investigated in the present article. The foundation consists of two cylinders at the front and one behind and are arranged in two different triangular configurations with spacing ratios of s/D = 3 and s/D = 5 (where s and D are the spacing and cylinder diameter, respectively). The submerged foundations obstruct free flow, creating unsteadiness in velocity and pressure fields that lead to wake interactions between adjacent structures. The resulting interactions can amplify dynamic loading imposed on the foundations. Also, the vortex shedding and flow separation can lead to oscillations, vortex-induced vibrations, and localized scouring around the foundations. This study aims to investigate and compare the effect of local blockage between two configurations and their role on dynamic vortex interaction. A key objective is to investigate the influence of the tripod configuration and variation of the spacing ratios on wake interference, vortex dynamics, and momentum transfer. The unsteady flow analysis will be conducted utilizing the high-fidelity large eddy simulation technique. This will allow detailed investigation of the anisotropic large-scale vortices engulfed within such flow configurations. The effects of these vortices on the overall flow dynamics, including the suppression of velocity gradients and the streamwise momentum transfer will be investigated. The outcome of this study seeks to advance the design of tripod foundations, improving the operational safety, reducing wake effects, and minimizing localized scour in marine environments.

Presenting Author: Saroj Gautam Memorial University of Newfoundland

Presenting Author Biography: Saroj Gautam is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His research focuses on fluid-structure interactions, wave energy converters (WECs), and the hydrodynamic performance of submerged ocean structures.