Abstract: Based on a coupled analytical model of floating wind turbine, an investigation into the influences of aerodynamic load and wind turbulence intensity on the fatigue life of mooring lines was performed by using the Miner’s cumulative damage theory, the rain flow method and the T-N curves. The results of the fatigue analyses of mooring lines show that the including of the turbulent wind loads causes an 80% decrease in the fatigue life of mooring lines, indicating the importance of choosing a reasonable turbulent wind model; in sea states with wind speed which is close to the rated wind speed of the wind turbine, aerodynamic loads can greatly amplify the horizontal displacement of the platform, thus increase the tension of mooring lines, and decrease the fatigue life of mooring lines; the interaction among the responses can worsen the fatigue damage of mooring lines. This study can guide the fatigue design of mooring lines.

Key words: floating wind turbines, mooring line fatigue analysis, aerodynamic load, coupled analysis model