ABSTRACT

This work provides a benchmark study regarding the open-source panel method codes of two floating wind turbine platforms. HAMS, NEMOH, and WAMIT are compared in terms of their results, computational performance, user-friendliness, and, flexibility. WAMIT’s data is sourced from previous publications for the OC3 Hywind Spar and OC4 DeepCWind Semisubmersible. These reference values are compared to NEMOH and HAMS for the main parameters representing the movement of the structure: wave excitation forces, added mass values, and potential damping. Both of the open source panel method codes were quite successful in the concept of a simple one-piece spar float rather than a multibody semi-submersible in terms of NRMS values. Overall, the most close results were obtained from the surge for added mass, and the most unfavorable results were from radiation damping in the heave. NEMOH brings ineligible results for pitch on both platforms. Neglecting the pitch axis results of NEMOH, both codes showed parallel and reasonably close results to WAMIT. The study aims to help researchers to choose a free open-source alternative to a validated commercial code.