Lifecycle Performance of an Innovative Flying Wing Anchor® for Offshore Wind Turbines: Experimental Investigation of Installation, In-Service Capacity, and Retrieval

The development of deepwater energy systems necessitates efficient mooring foundations. This study experimentally investigates the installation and retrieval performance of a dynamically installed Flying Wing Anchor ^® in water and sand, evaluating the effects of tip geometry, steady flow fin configuration, and booster. Results identify fins as critical for maintaining directional stability during free-fall, with a polygonal design providing the strongest restoring moment, maintaining a tilt angle below 1.2° throughout free-fall. This stability enhancement incurs a hydrodynamic trade-off by increasing drag and reducing terminal kinetic energy, which decreases penetration depth by approximately 11%. A streamlined tip achieves roughly 12% greater embedment than a conical design. Furthermore, fins significantly enhance uplift capacity, with the polygonal configuration increasing peak pull-out resistance by about 41% compared to a finless anchor. The results reveal design trade-offs between installation accuracy and ultimate capacity.