TY - JOUR T1 - Fatigue of improved polyamide mooring ropes for floating wind turbines A1 - Chevillotte,Yoan A1 - Marco,Yann A1 - Bles,Guilhem A1 - Devos,Karel A1 - Keryer,Mathieu A1 - Arhant,Mael A1 - Davies,Peter AD - ENSTA Bretagne, Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme, IRDL-UMR CNRS 6027, 29200, Brest, France AD - IFREMER, Centre Bretagne, Marine Structures Laboratory, 29280, Plouzané, France AD - Bexco, Hamme, Belgium AD - Naval Energies, 29803, Brest, France AD - France Energies Marines, 29280, Plouzané, France UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2020.107011 DO - 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2020.107011 KW - Fatigue KW - Rope KW - Nylon KW - Mooring KW - Water KW - Floating wind turbine N2 - This paper describes a study of the fatigue characterization of polyamide mooring ropes for floating wind turbines. Under some conditions polyester ropes, which are favoured for offshore oil and gas platform station-keeping, are too stiff for wind turbine moorings, and polyamide may be a suitable alternative. While early studies on fatigue of braided nylon ropes showed very short lifetimes some recent results have indicated that it is possible to significantly enhance lifetime by modifying rope construction and improving fibre coatings. In this paper yarn-on-yarn abrasion testing is used first to evaluate a new yarn coating. Significant lifetime enhancement was noted, so fatigue testing of ropes was then performed. Results confirm that excellent fatigue lifetimes can be achieved, superior to those for steel chain. Finally, failed yarn and rope samples were examined by microscopy, in order to improve understanding of the fatigue mechanisms leading to failure. Y1 - 2020/03 PB - Elsevier BV JF - Ocean Engineering SN - 0029-8018 VL - 199 ID - 71884 ER -