Targeted CFD and Structural Analysis to De-Risk Offshore Load Cases

Sector: Offshore Wind / Marine Structures
Project Stage: Concept Design
Client Type: Offshore Technology Developer (Confidential)

Client Challenge

The client required confidence in:

• Localised wind and wave loading effects

• Non-intuitive pressure distributions on exposed structural elements

• Structural response sensitivity under extreme but credible load cases

Full coupled aero-hydro modelling was disproportionate at this stage, but simplified assumptions were insufficient.

Equitus Role

Equitus provided targeted CFD-led load definition supported by structural analysis:

• CFD studies to characterise pressure distributions

• Translation of CFD outputs into structural load cases

• Sensitivity studies to identify governing scenarios

• Engineering judgement to avoid false precision

Key Outcomes

• Identified governing load cases earlier than expected

• Avoided unnecessary structural mass increase

• Provided defensible load envelopes for onward design

• Reduced uncertainty without excessive modelling cost