Abstract
This study presents an optimal experimental design (OED) framework for efficiently identifying low-frequency hydrodynamic loads on floating structures. The proposed method exploits the possibilities offered by cyber-physical (CP) testing, an experimental method allowing real-time control of the boundary conditions applied to the floater. In the present context, the floater is kept in position by a virtual linear mooring system, defined by a stiffness and a damping coefficient. The ease of control of these parameters is leveraged to formulate a rigorous OED approach that maximizes the information gained from the experimental campaign. The method quantifies the information gain and selects the optimal values for the stiffness and damping properties of the active mooring system. The experimental setting identified with the OED approach yields the most reliable estimates of the low-frequency added mass and damping coefficients and wave excitation force. The approach is validated through an experimental campaign conducted at SINTEF Ocean using a scaled model of the INO WINDMOOR 12 MW floating wind turbine. It is concluded that experimental setups with a larger spread in stiffness parameters significantly enhance parameter identifiability, while variations in damping have minimal influence.