Study on Genetic Algorithms and Constraint Handling Techniques Applied to the Optimization of Jacket Structures for Offshore Wind Turbines
Palavras-chave:
Structural optimization, offshore jackets, Offshore Wind Turbines, Genetic Algorithm, Constraint Handling TechniquesResumo
Recently, steel jackets have been an attractive alternative as support structures for Offshore Wind
Turbines (OWT), supporting the production of wind energy. Design of offshore jackets require complex analysis
due to the dynamic environmental loads and the frequencies from the turbine operation. So, it is important to
address coupled models where the interactions between the jacket and the turbine are considered. The jacket weight
also represents an important measure since a lighter structure has a lower cost and a potential of higher efficiency.
The main objective of this work is to study optimization techniques based on Evolutionary Algorithms (EA) to
minimize the weight of jackets for OWT, considering a coupled model. The structure model used in this work was
based on that developed in the OC4 (Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration Continuation) project. A Genetic
Algorithm (GA) was applied as the optimization algorithm. Two constraint handling techniques were compared
in the problem. Preliminary results present feasible solutions which decreased the weight and natural frequencies.
