This PhD thesis focuses on probabilistic structural reliability assessments of wave energy converters, considering uncertainties related to physical properties, limited data sets, considered simplified models and measurement errors. The resulting structural probability of failure can be used to calibrate safety factors used in structural standards as well as for reliability-based structural optimizations including operation and maintenance considerations.

The main objectives of this PhD thesis are as follows

• to determine wave energy converter specific uncertainties in connection with estimating structural loads onto wave energy converter structures,
• to perform probabilistic reliability assessments of wave energy converter details,
• to find appropriate structural reliability levels for wave energy converter structural details as well as
• to calibrate partial safety factors for design of wave energy converter structures,
• to introduce a method to extrapolate extreme loads of wave energy converters as well as
• to present different maintenance and operation strategies including different transportation strategies.

Structural reliability, Wave energy converter, Structural optimization

Stochastic Modeling of Long-term and Extreme Value Estimation of Wind and Sea Conditions for Probabilistic Reliability Assessments of Wave Energy Devices, Ambühl, S., Kofoed, J. P. and Sørensen, J. D. Ocean Engineering, Volume 89, pp. 243 - 255. September 2014, Citations

Reliability Assessment of Wave Energy Devices, Ambühl, S., Kramer, M., Ferreira, C. B., Kofoed, J. P. and Sørensen, J. D. 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability (ICOSSAR) 2013. June 2013, Citations

Fatigue Reliability and Calibration of Fatigue Design Factors of Wave Energy Converters, Ambühl, S., Ferri, F., Kofoed, J. P. and Sørensen, J. D. International Journal of Marine Energy, Volume 10, pp. 17-38. January 2015, Citations

Extrapolation of Extreme Response for Different Mooring Line Systems of FloatingWave Energy Converters, Ambühl, S., Sterndorff, M. and Sørensen, J. D. International Journal of Marine Energy, Volume 7, pp. 1-19. September 2014, Citations

Operation and Maintenance Strategies for Wave Energy Converters, Ambühl, S., Marquis, L., Kofoed, J. P. and Sørensen, J. D. Proc IMechE Part O: J Risk and Reliability (Online publication). March 2015, Citations

Reliability-based Structural Optimization ofWave Energy Converters, Ambühl, S., Kramer, M. and Sørensen, J. D. Energies, Volume 7, Number 12, pp. 8178 - 8200. December 2014, Citations