Fully integrated load analysis included in the structural reliability assessment of a monopile supported offshore wind turbine

The present work investigates where cost reductions in the support structure are possible while keeping a sound and safe design. A probabilistic design tool is presented, which involves a coupling between reliability analysis and wind turbine simulation tools. A proof of principle of the proposed tool is given in a case study considering a 4 MW reference wind turbine and a limited lumped load set. The assumptions made in this case study are presented and the results show the reliability index is higher than recommended by DNV. The main contributors to the variance of the fatigue limit state function are the Miner's rule uncertainty and log(C2) parameter in the SN-curve.