The afternoon sessions of the Digital Twinning Workshop will consist of two breakout sessions, with two track options during each session. The schedule, moderators, and descriptions of breakout sessions are found below.
| 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Track 1: Safety Aware O&M | Track 2: Fatigue & Corrosion |
| 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Track 1: Policy & Regulation | Track 2: Nacelles & Drivetrains |
Safety Aware O&M
Moderators: Cheri Hunter (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, BSEE), Beth Rosenberg (Tufts University)
Hosted by Anna Haensch (Tufts University), Eleonora M. Tronci (Northeastern University)
Description: In this breakout session, we will focus on the critical role of human-centered decision-making in crafting safety regulations and policies across offshore wind projects. From development to construction and maintenance, we’ll identify opportunities for enhancing safety guidelines while keeping human needs at the forefront. We will examine how current policies influence safety practices and discuss potential improvements to ensure alignment with evolving safety standards.
Join us for an engaging and enlightening exchange as we strive to situate safety as a key component of offshore wind design and maintenance by fostering continuous improvement and amplifying the voices of workers directly involved.
Fatigue & Corrosion
Moderators: Dan Kuchma (Tufts University), Feargal Brennan (University of Strathclyde)
Description: In this session, we’ll discuss topics concerning the long-term degradation due to fatigue and corrosion of offshore wind turbines. The long-term durability of offshore wind support structures is an area of critical importance for both design and asset management. The marine environment is harsh with high demands for both fatigue and corrosion damage, and the interaction between corrosion and fatigue damage has a been a major focus of study in the last 5-10 years. Breakout session topics for discussion may include comparisons between modern fatigue testing and testing from the 1980s, impact of pre-corrosion on steel welds, risks associated with corrosion protection system failure, impact of thick welded plates on fatigue life, potential for weld improvements such as peening and grinding, and major risks/concerns associated with fatigue damage. Can we combine our greater understanding of the long-term durability of welded steel under corrosion-fatigue conditions with our greater ability to measure and project fatigue demand (via SHM) to better inform inspection, repair, and life-time extension decisions for an offshore wind asset?
Policy & Regulation
Moderators: Cheri Hunter (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, BSEE), Barbara Kates-Garnick (Fletcher School, Tufts University)
Hosted by Eric Hines (Tufts University)
Description: This session will discuss the role that policy and regulation play in the energy transition and offshore wind industry. The health and safety of our U.S. offshore wind fleet is of vital importance to the public good and a key concern for regulators. Additionally, the prospect of extending service life opens possibility for longer leasing and financing time horizons, which in turn has the potential to reduce environmental impacts and long term costs of our future energy systems.
Nacelles & Drivetrains
Moderators: Sauro Liberatore (Tufts University), Jon Keller (NREL)
Description: Drivetrain components of wind turbines are exposed to challenging mechanical working environments and their failure is among the major contributors to maintenance cost. Preventive maintenance and downtime reduction strategies are seen as the best solutions that can drive down the maintenance cost.
The work of Tufts University is directed towards addressing these two fundamental issues by:
1) Developing digital twins of the drivetrain system for virtual sensing and remaining useful life prediction
2) Leading the efforts to explore the application of fluid film bearings, which can provide extended life expectancy and reduce maintenance costs of wind turbine drivetrain systems