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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ben WetenhallORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 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.
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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