Recent studies have demonstrated the merits of spectral-domain (SD) modeling in efficiently addressing nonlinear dynamic behvavior of stand-alone wave energy converters (WECs). However, the potential of the SD modeling approach deserves further exploitation by examining its applicability in simulating the entire wave-to-wire (W2W) process of WEC arrays. This article proposed and verified a SD W2W model of WEC arrays. The WEC arrays are considered as five same-sized heaving cylindrical point absorbers, and they are all equipped with linear Permanent Magnet (PM) generators. The established SD W2W model is verified by being compared with results of a nonlinear time-domain-based W2W model across a variety of operation conditions. The computational efficiency of the two simulation approaches in modeling WEC arrays is also identified and compared. The results suggest that the SD W2W model is associated with a relative error of less than 11 % to the nonlinear time-domain reference, with regard to the estimates of significant statistical performance indicators, such as WEC velocity, absorbed and electrical power of individual power, and total electrical power production of the WEC arrays. At the same time, the SD W2W model presents a high computational efficiency, being around 2000 times faster than the time-domain W2W model of WEC arrays.

A critical challenge to the practical deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) is their vulnerability to extreme wave loads. This study proposes a novel design for an oscillating body-WEC, called adjustable draft WEC (ADWEC), which aims to enhance resilience under extreme wave conditions while maintain extraction efficiency at normal sea states. The present numerical simulations focus on the interaction between regular extreme waves and ADWEC in both fixed and dynamic conditions. It is found that the excitation force is highly sensitive to wave nonlinearities, appearing as an asymmetric excitation force in the horizontal direction and a double-peak phenomenon in the vertical direction. Increasing the draft can significantly reduce vertical loads and heave motion, thereby enhancing survivability by mitigating impact forces and buoyancy fluctuations. A shallower draft allows for greater heave amplitude and higher energy conversion, particularly under short-period conditions. The present findings reveal that the draft of the ADWEC has significant effects on the wave loads, hydrodynamic performance and energy extraction, which provides guidance to the practical design of WECs for survivability.