Qualifications Needed by Certified Verification Agents - Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Turbines - page 114

design assumptions are valid and the conclusions are supported by the
results.
3. Determination of the adequacy of proposed design environmental con-
ditions. A CVA must understand the prevalent environmental condi-
tions affecting the site and be able to assess whether the site-specific
criteria developed for the project have been adequately considered in
the design approach and the final design.
4. Evaluation of foundation design. Within U.S. waters, a variety of soil
types and factors affect foundation design (e.g., scour). The CVA must
be able to identify whether the design approach is suitable for local con-
ditions and verify that long-term effects such as cyclic degradation and
scour have been adequately addressed.
5. Interaction between the foundation and the turbine system. In contrast
to the case for offshore oil and gas permanent structures, the inter-
action between the wind turbine's above-water structure and the sub-
structure and foundation has a dynamically driven response that must
be considered in the design and understood by the CVA to ensure that
it has been adequately addressed.
6. Determination of the adequacy of the geotechnical assessment. The
quality of soil data can vary greatly depending on who does the investi-
gation, where the borings are taken in relation to the foundation, and
the age of the data and their interpretation. The CVA must understand
these factors and be able to determine whether the soil data are suitable
for the foundation design.
7. Performance of design calculations similar to those provided in the
design reports. This is not a requirement that independent calculations
be performed but that the CVA be able to perform them as necessary.
Fabrication CVA
A fabrication CVA should have expertise in the following areas:
1. Fabricator quality control. The CVA should be familiar with quality
control processes and be able to perform audits of the fabricator's sys-
tems to determine compliance specific to the project.
2. Material quality evaluation. The CVA should understand material
traceability procedures and be able to determine whether project