The research will develop and apply methodologies to create a storm event climatology that characterizes standards-based design parameters for extreme winds, waves, currents, and water levels at event return periods appropriate to the acceptable risk for safe operation and survival of the various different components of offshore wind projects, including the turbine, rotor-nacelle-assembly, the turbine support tower, turbine and tower foundation structures, and accessory platforms.
The scope of work is broken up into the following tasks:
Task 1. Analysis of Historical Wind and Wave Hindcast Databases. This task will produce 50- and 100-year return values for 10-minute mean wind speed at 10 meters above still-water level and significant wave height at a total of 139 grid points using the Army Corps of Engineers Wave Information Studies in Phase I, and using the Wavewatch III operational forecast in Phase II.
Task 2. Development and Analysis of Synthetic Hurricane Wind Database. This task will produce 50- and 100-year return values for 10-minute mean wind speed at 10 meters above still-water level and significant wave height using a synthetic hurricane database previously developed for ASCE-7.
Task 3. Development of Methodology to Estimate Storm Surge Water Levels. This task will produce short-term guidance on estimating 50- and 100-year extreme storm surge values to be used in offshore wind project design and also recommend a longer-term approach to producing a more accurate climatology of extreme water levels.
Task 4. Development of Current Analysis Methodology. This task will provide interim guidance 'rule of thumb' recommendations on estimating extreme surface current speeds.
Task 5. Provide Recommendations for Interim Design Guidance Package. This task will involve preparation of a 'roadmap' of how the met-ocean parameters (wind, waves, currents, and water levels) can be translated into quantities of design interest.
Task 6. Preparation of Final Technical Report and Dissemination of Results.
Task 7. Project Management and Administrative Reporting.
Final report completed.