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Comparative fatigue crack analysis of yaw bearings in floating offshore wind turbines to turbulent wind

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ben WetenhallORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

© 2025 Elsevier LtdWind turbines play a crucial role in renewable energy generation. The yaw bearing, as the largest bearing component in a wind turbine, supports the rotational motion of the nacelle. Compared to fixed onshore and offshore turbines, floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are subjected to more complex environmental loads, increasing the susceptibility of their yaw bearings to fatigue cracks. This study proposes a systematic methodology for fatigue crack assessment in yaw bearings of FOWTs and benchmarks the results against those from fixed turbines operating under various turbulent wind conditions. A modified submodel technique, coupled with the extended finite element method (XFEM), is employed to simulate crack propagation at critical locations. The computed stress intensity factor (SIF) and maximum tangential stress (MTS) direction reveal that both environmental loads and foundation types significantly affect bearing fatigue life. A parameterized study on initial crack depth and inclination is conducted. The results show that at an initial crack depth of 3 mm, cracks propagate simultaneously toward the bearing interior and the raceway surface through a mixed Mode I and II mechanism, leading to spalling and through-crack failures. For a 30° inclination, surface spalling is predominant, whereas at 90°, through-crack failure is more likely to occur.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Xu J, Zhang Y, Hou H, Wetenhall B, Mao M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Ocean Engineering

Year: 2025

Volume: 340

Issue: Part 3

Print publication date: 30/11/2025

Online publication date: 08/08/2025

Acceptance date: 01/08/2025

Date deposited: 19/08/2025

ISSN (print): 0029-8018

ISSN (electronic): 1873-5258

Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.122374

DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.122374

ePrints DOI: 10.57711/yz5n-pq33

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