Assessing Accuracy of Thrust-Curve-Based Models for Mooring Load Prediction in Floating Wind Systems
© 2025 by the New & Renewable Energy
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The accurate prediction of mooring line loads in floating offshore wind systems is critical for conducting design. These loads are significantly affected by the turbine thrust performance, which is typically governed by detailed turbine specifications such as blade geometry and control logic. However, such data are typically inaccessible owing to confidentiality, thus rendering thrust-curve- based simplified models a practical alternative. This study evaluates the reliability of a thrust-curve-based simplified model using only thrust curves, by comparing it with a fully detailed model that includes aerodynamic effects and controller logic. Both models are based on the IEA 15 MW reference turbine and the UMaine VolturnUS-S platform, and simulations were conducted under DLC 1.2 conditions using OrcaFlex. The results show that the simplified model estimates the rotor thrust and peak mooring loads within approximately 2% of those of the detailed model, thus demonstrating sufficient accuracy for early-stage design. However, in certain frequency bands, the simplified model shows higher responses owing to inadequate control-based load attenuation This study suggests that thrust- curve-based models can serve as a practical tool for mooring system design when turbine data are limited while highlighting the necessity for caution in fatigue-sensitive or high-fidelity applications.