Impact of Geotechnical Uncertainty on the Preliminary Design of Monopiles Supporting Offshore Wind Turbines

Abstract The growing demand for clean renewable energy sources and the lack of suitable nearshore sites are moving offshore wind industry toward developing larger turbines in deeper water locations further offshore. This is adding significant uncertainty to geotechnical design monopiles used as foundations these systems. Soil testing becomes more challenging, rigid monopile behavior less certain, methods being applied outside bounds datasets from which they were originally derived. paper examines potential impact certain elements on monotonic load–displacement system natural frequency an example monopile-supported turbine (OWT). Geotechnical considered terms spatial variability soil properties derived cone penetration tests (CPT), parameter transformation using rigidity index, choice subgrade reaction modeling. Results suggest that CPT exhibits limited characteristics vertical tends be averaged out process develop discrete reaction-lateral displacement (p-y) models. highlights a issue whereby localized variations may not captured Spatial data has noticeable effect predicted responses OWTs employing model approach, influence significant. purpose this investigate data, transformation, resulting structural subset available approaches. It should noted exists wide variety alternative models can by designers, so results interpreted qualitatively.