Bio-inspired semi-submersible platform for improving the hydrodynamic stability of floating vertical-axis wind turbines

Liu, K, Huang, H, Liu, Q, Zhang, Q ORCID: 0000-0002-0651-469X, Li, C, Iglesias, G, Wang, J ORCID: 0000-0003-4646-9106 and Bashir, M (2026) Bio-inspired semi-submersible platform for improving the hydrodynamic stability of floating vertical-axis wind turbines. Ocean Engineering, 363 (P1). ISSN 0029-8018

Preview

Text Bio inspired semi submersible platform for improving the hydrodynamic stability of floating vertical axis wind turbines.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (18MB) | Preview

Abstract

Floating vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) offer high power density, directional insensitivity and convenient operation and maintenance; however, their large power fluctuations and limited survivability under extreme sea states hinder utility-scale deployment. To address these challenges, this study proposes a water hyacinth (WH)-inspired semi-submersible platform incorporating biomimetic buoyancy chambers parameterized using Bézier curves. Three configurations (WHS, WHM, and WHL) are developed and evaluated using a Dynamic Fluid-Body Interaction (DFBI) approach coupled with a Volume of Fluid (VOF) model under combined wind-wave loading. The biomimetic geometry modifies the added-mass distribution, hydrodynamic damping, and local flow structures around the platform, leading to reductions of up to 16.3%, 15.5%, and 15.0% in the dominant surge, heave, and pitch responses, respectively. Among the three configurations, WHM exhibits the most balanced hydrodynamic performance. Further comparisons with spherical, cylindrical, and disc-shaped buoyancy structures of equivalent volume demonstrate that the improved stability originates from the biomimetic morphology rather than buoyancy enhancement alone. When integrated into a floating VAWT system, the WHM platform reduces surge, heave, and pitch responses by 0.8%, 11%, and 10%, respectively, while decreasing the power spectral density of the power coefficient by approximately 18.6%. Overall, the proposed WH-inspired platform provides an effective passive strategy for improving the hydrodynamic stability and smoothing power output of floating VAWTs.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Floating vertical axis wind turbine; Bio-inspired; Computational fluid dynamics; Coupled aero-hydrodynamic analysis; Semi-submersible platform; 4015 Maritime Engineering; 40 Engineering; 7 Affordable and Clean Energy; 0405 Oceanography; 0905 Civil Engineering; 0911 Maritime Engineering; Civil Engineering; 4005 Civil engineering; 4012 Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering; 4015 Maritime engineering
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Divisions:	Engineering and Built Environment
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	14 June 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	3 September 2026
Date Deposited:	03 Sep 2026 15:39
Last Modified:	03 Sep 2026 15:39
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.oceaneng.2026.126575
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29319

View Item