Laboratory Soete
Knowledge Institute
Ghent University
Address
Technologiepark 46, 9052 Gent
Our offshore wind expertise (general)
Structural analysis and fatigue lifetime assessment of critical components of offshore wind turbines, both bottom-fixed and floating. Components include the entire substructure and its welds, power cables, wind turbine blades, and gearbox components.
We develop numerical tools to analyse detailed fatigue driving stresses and damage accumulation, which are the main building blocks for data-driven lifetime prediction. For floating offshore wind this is supported with frameworks that couple aero-hydrodynamic simulations with structural analysis. Related to damage, we also study the synergistic effects of fatigue and corrosion, fatigue and wear, fracture and hydrogen embrittlement.
These numerical studies are complemented with experimental activities on small-scale laboratory specimens as well as larger scale tests on structural components. All experimental activities are supported with advanced instrumentation and/or monitoring techniques for deformation and damage.
Our relevant equipment | tools | infrastructure
for offshore wind:
Multi-axial test benches of various sizes, static and dynamic, including custom built test rigs, combined with internal and external environments are available.
A range of instrumentation techniques is available for load, deformation and damage monitoring. Our expertise is in numerical simulations that use finite element software to accurately represent the behavior of materials and systems under varied conditions.
More details can be found at https://www.ugent.be/ea/emsme/en/services/soete/overview.htm
4.3.2 Digital twin development for risk management
4.2 Condition monitoring and (predictive) maintenance
2.2.1 Fixed foundation design
4. Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
4.2.2 Predictive analytics and machine learning
2.2.4 Corrosion protection and coatings
6.2 Lifetime extension strategies
2.2 Tower and Substructure Design
4.2.1 Real-time turbine structural health monitoring
2.2.3 Structural dynamics and fatigue analysis
6.1 Residual lifetime assessment
2. Design & Engineering of windfarm components
4.3 Digital Twins and Simulation
2.2.2 Floating foundation design
6. End-of-Life
Our offshore wind expertise (all lifecycle stages)
Contact details
Wim De Waele
Professor - coordinator of the 'Fracture and Fatigue' group within Laboratory Soete
+32 93 31 04 83
