Coupled dynamic analysis between wind turbines and substructures in fixed and floating offshore wind turbine structures is currently a challenge. The 3D finite element analysis software X-SEA coupled with the OpenFAST program is therefore developed and discussed in this paper. The current version of X-SEA includes the results of extensive research and development based on the finite element program XFINAS, which was originally developed in Imperial College London. The X-SEA solution ranges from simple static to highly advanced dynamic analysis applied to the offshore structures. Autocad is used as pre- and post-processor of X-SEA.
The X-SEA program is specialized in offshore projects, including nonlinear structural analysis, dynamic response analysis due to wind, current, waves, and seismic loads, impact dynamics and collapse analysis. X-SEA can also carry out fatigue analysis for tubular steel structures in frequency and time domain.
Furthermore, the code checks of steel members with several offshore standards: AISC, API, DNV, Euro-code, ISO and NORSOK, are available in X-SEA for the design of offshore structures. The program has been validated with a standard commercial package called the Structural Analysis Computer System. The theoretical background of X-SEA software is also summarized.