A Framework for Assessing Structural Resilience of Offshore Wind Turbines

Abstract

The concept of resilience provides a useful framework for considering an offshore wind turbine (OWT) as a system of integrated structural and mechanical components. This paper proposes quantifying economic losses associated with failure of an OWT using a catastrophe (CAT) risk modelling framework. Providing a first step towards evaluating offshore wind farm (OWF) resilience. A site-specific assessment of structural fragility is developed and then combined with empirical mechanical and electrical component failure rates to assess losses. The results from a case-study application indicate that failure of the structure plays a major role on the overall risk profile of an OWF, but depends on the severity of the site environmental conditions.