Date of Award
2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Aaron S. Bradshaw
Abstract
The accurate estimation of mudline loads is essential for assessing structural health and fatigue damage of offshore wind turbines. Direct measurements at the mudline are expensive and rarely feasible, reliable load reconstruction methods are required. This supports monitoring strategies and can help to extend the lifetime of a turbine. In this thesis, two reconstruction approaches are evaluated. Method 1 relies on SCADA data and tower strain measurements while Method 2 uses inclinometer signals and tower strain measurements. Both Methods are applied to unwinding and operational conditions and are compared against fiber-optic reference measurements at the mudline level. The findings show that Method 1 provides a stable mudline force reconstruction. Peak deviations remain small and the trends align closely with the reference measurements. In contrast, Method 2 exhibits large oscillations and is very sensitive to modeling assumptions. Overall, Method 1 shows good agreement with the reference measurements and is a reliable approach for mudline force determination. Method 2 is strongly affected by measurement noise and parameter uncertainty. The results show that it is possible to determine mudline forces using a limited number of sensors. However, they also highlight how important it is to make the correct structural assumptions. Future work should examine the stability of the inclinometer signal, as this would enable a more accurate load reconstruction.
Recommended Citation
Grauer, Ina, "ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF SIMPLE MUDLINE FORCE DETERMINATION TECHNIQUES FOR MONOPILE OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES" (2026). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2751.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2751