Experimental assessment of a semi-submersible floating solar platform subjected to wave and wind loading

Floating solar platforms are subjected to coupled wave and wind induced responses, straddling the unpredictable wave-wind boundary layer. The simultaneous actions of these coupled responses in real sea conditions are not yet fully investigated for floating solar systems. The fluid-structure interactions are complex due to these coupled responses. The combined response to these wave and wind loads results in a coupled motion and tension in the mooring lines. This paper investigates the wave-only and wave-wind load case scenarios using scaled model wave tank testing. To study these scenarios, the Qualisys motion capture system is used to record the motions of the structure in the tank and load cells to record the mooring loads. This study investigates the correlation of wave, wind, motions, and mooring tension. The contribution of the wind loading component to the coupled wave-wind scenario is assessed and trends are determined for the wind loading contribution effects observed.