Development and application of a 3D visualized construction simulation platform for offshore wind power

The core challenges in the hoisting construction of large-scale offshore wind power structures include significant systematic safety risks arising from complex marine environments, the limited adoption of digital technologies in traditional construction management, and inadequate standardization of construction processes. To address these issues, a 3D dynamic simulation and intelligent decision-support platform covering the entire construction workflow has been developed, aiming to provide a comprehensive technical solution for the digital transformation of the offshore wind power industry. The platform is built on a five-layer distributed system architecture, ensuring stable data transmission, efficient computing, and the seamless integration of multiple functional modules. At its core, the platform integrates several key technologies: a multi-body system dynamic coupling algorithm specifically designed to simulate the interactive motions of ships, waves, and hoisted objects under varying marine conditions; Oriented Bounding Box Tree (OBB Tree) technology, which improves the efficiency of spatial collision detection; and the GJK-EPA algorithm, which further enhances the accuracy of distance measurement between dynamic objects. Through the integration of these technologies, the platform achieves dynamic interaction simulation of the ship-wave-hoisted object system, with millimeter-level spatial positioning accuracy at the millimeter level and a system response frequency of 60 Hz, which fully satisfying the real-time and high-precision requirements of offshore wind power construction simulation. The platform comprises two core functional modules that address critical challenges in practical construction. The intelligent checking and calculation module automatically selects slings and shipborne equipment based on real-time construction parameters and engineering requirements. It also performs automatic strength checks of key components, completely replacing the traditional manual methods of table lookup and empirical calculation methods, which are prone to human error and low efficiency. The high-fidelity construction simulation module, when combined with UAV scanning and modeling technology, significantly optimizes the modeling process. Compared with the traditional 14-day modeling cycle, this module reduces the cycle to 4 days, representing a 71.43% improvement in efficiency. Moreover, the deviation between the generated model and the actual object is strictly controlled within 5 millimeters, ensuring high model fidelity. Additionally, this module can automatically generate standardized construction documents compliant with international maritime and offshore engineering standards, laying a solid foundation for standardized construction management in the industry. To comprehensively verify the technical feasibility and engineering applicability of the platform, a three-level verification system consisting of “authoritative certification, expert review, and engineering validation” was established. At the first level, the platform successfully passed international maritime standard certification, demonstrating its compliance with global industry standards. At the second level, it underwent rigorous review by a panel of industry experts, who confirmed the innovation, rationality, and practical value of the platform’s technical framework. At the third level, the platform was applied and validated in three actual offshore wind power projects featuring different sea conditions and construction scenarios. Verification data from these projects show that the deviation rate of the hoisted object's center-of-gravity displacement is 9.09%, the deviation rate of the maximum sling tension of the slings is 2.40%, the deviation rate of the ship's roll angle is 2.04%, and the deviation rate of the minimum collision distance is 4.00%. All these deviation rates fall well within the acceptable range of engineering accuracy, fully confirming the reliability and effectiveness of the platform in practical applications. In conclusion, the developed 3D dynamic simulation and intelligent decision-support platform effectively addresses the key technical challenges in offshore wind power construction. It not only provides strong theoretical support and reliable technical assurance for the digital transformation of the offshore wind power industry but also establishes a technical benchmark for the standardized and intelligent development of the industry’s construction processes.