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Blade-resolved CFD analysis of a floating wind turbine: new insights on unsteady aerodynamics, loads, and wake.

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Title: Blade-resolved CFD analysis of a floating wind turbine: new insights on unsteady aerodynamics, loads, and wake.
Authors: Cioni, Stefano1 (AUTHOR), Papi, Francesco1 (AUTHOR), Balduzzi, Francesco1 (AUTHOR), Fontanella, Alessandro2 (AUTHOR), Bianchini, Alessandro1 (AUTHOR) alessandro.bianchini@unifi.it
Source: Ocean Engineering. Dec2025:Part 3, Vol. 341, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Computational fluid dynamics, Unsteady flow (Aerodynamics), Aerodynamic load, Offshore wind power plants, Rotor dynamics, Vortex methods, Turbulent flow, Fluid dynamics
Abstract: The impact of platform motion on rotor aerodynamics and wake dynamics of a floating wind turbine is not yet completely understood. While recent analyses using model-scale wind tunnel experiments have provided a useful benchmark, experimental limitations do exist in the analysis of blade aerodynamics in the spanwise direction as well as of near wake dynamics. To capture these phenomena, engineering methods used to date for wake studies are not adequate and blade-resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are needed, despite their significant calculation cost. In the study, an innovative meshing strategy is first developed in order to simulate a model wind turbine with imposed pitching motion, replicating conditions from a recent wind tunnel experiment. Then, highly refined unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations are used to perform an in-depth analysis not only of common turbine performance figures, but specifically of spanwise load oscillations, which, particularly in the outer blade region, are caused by unsteady aerodynamic response driven by rotor tilt rather than platform motion. An unprecedented analysis of the effective angle of attack is also provided, which allowed the reconstruction of the major 3D spanwise phenomena. State-of-the-art free-vortex wake simulations of the same test conditions are also performed with the software QBlade to analyze and discuss the limitations of engineering methods with respect to a blade-resolved approach. Regarding wake dynamics, URANS overpredicts velocity deficits in the near wake, possibly due to limitations in capturing the effect of free-stream turbulence; nevertheless, blade-resolved simulations effectively capture tip vortices and can serve as a benchmark for lower-fidelity models, when no experimental data is available. [Display omitted] • Innovative deformation and remeshing strategy allowing blade-resolved simulation of floating wind turbines • New insights on the impact of unsteady aerodynamic effects on the rotor performance in FOWTs • New perspectives on the effects of rotor motion on the spanwise blade aerodynamic response • Assessment of CFD's capabilities in describing the near wake deficit and vortex structures of a FOWT [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ocean Engineering is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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An: 189516783
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Blade-resolved CFD analysis of a floating wind turbine: new insights on unsteady aerodynamics, loads, and wake.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cioni%2C+Stefano%22">Cioni, Stefano</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Papi%2C+Francesco%22">Papi, Francesco</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Balduzzi%2C+Francesco%22">Balduzzi, Francesco</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fontanella%2C+Alessandro%22">Fontanella, Alessandro</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bianchini%2C+Alessandro%22">Bianchini, Alessandro</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> alessandro.bianchini@unifi.it</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ocean+Engineering%22">Ocean Engineering</searchLink>. Dec2025:Part 3, Vol. 341, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The impact of platform motion on rotor aerodynamics and wake dynamics of a floating wind turbine is not yet completely understood. While recent analyses using model-scale wind tunnel experiments have provided a useful benchmark, experimental limitations do exist in the analysis of blade aerodynamics in the spanwise direction as well as of near wake dynamics. To capture these phenomena, engineering methods used to date for wake studies are not adequate and blade-resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are needed, despite their significant calculation cost. In the study, an innovative meshing strategy is first developed in order to simulate a model wind turbine with imposed pitching motion, replicating conditions from a recent wind tunnel experiment. Then, highly refined unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations are used to perform an in-depth analysis not only of common turbine performance figures, but specifically of spanwise load oscillations, which, particularly in the outer blade region, are caused by unsteady aerodynamic response driven by rotor tilt rather than platform motion. An unprecedented analysis of the effective angle of attack is also provided, which allowed the reconstruction of the major 3D spanwise phenomena. State-of-the-art free-vortex wake simulations of the same test conditions are also performed with the software QBlade to analyze and discuss the limitations of engineering methods with respect to a blade-resolved approach. Regarding wake dynamics, URANS overpredicts velocity deficits in the near wake, possibly due to limitations in capturing the effect of free-stream turbulence; nevertheless, blade-resolved simulations effectively capture tip vortices and can serve as a benchmark for lower-fidelity models, when no experimental data is available. [Display omitted] • Innovative deformation and remeshing strategy allowing blade-resolved simulation of floating wind turbines • New insights on the impact of unsteady aerodynamic effects on the rotor performance in FOWTs • New perspectives on the effects of rotor motion on the spanwise blade aerodynamic response • Assessment of CFD's capabilities in describing the near wake deficit and vortex structures of a FOWT [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Ocean Engineering is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=189516783
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.122746
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Computational fluid dynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Unsteady flow (Aerodynamics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aerodynamic load
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Offshore wind power plants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rotor dynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vortex methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Turbulent flow
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fluid dynamics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Blade-resolved CFD analysis of a floating wind turbine: new insights on unsteady aerodynamics, loads, and wake.
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            NameFull: Cioni, Stefano
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            NameFull: Papi, Francesco
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            NameFull: Balduzzi, Francesco
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            NameFull: Fontanella, Alessandro
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            NameFull: Bianchini, Alessandro
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            – D: 15
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025:Part 3
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 341
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