Wave induced fatigue loads - Insights from frequency domain calculations

Offshore wind turbines are subject to dynamic excitation from wave loads. Especially when monopile substructures are used, significant fatigue loads can be induced by waves, which are then governing the design. Calculations in the frequency domain are very efficient to compute such wave induced loads and by applying some simplifications, very compact equations can be derived for the determination of fatigue loads. Such simplified formulas can be applied with good accuracy and important insight on governing parameters for wave induced fatigue loads can be gained. Based upon the formulas, further methods e. g. for lumping of scatter diagrams and for interpolations of fatigue loads for different positions within a wind farm can be derived.