Drainage conditions around monopiles in sand

Large diameter monopiles are typical foundation solutions for offshore wind turbines. In design of the monopile foundations in sand, it is necessary to understand the drainage conditions of the foundation soil under the design loading conditions as the soil performance (strength and stiffness) is highly dependent on the drainage conditions. This paper presents a numerical investigation into this issue, with a purpose to develop a simple design criterion for assessing the soil drainage conditions around a monopile in sand. It is found that for typical monopile foundations in sand, the drainage condition during a single load cycle is generally expected to be undrained. However, the current state-of-practice uses p-y springs derived for drained soil responses for monopile design. The impact of this discrepancy on monopile foundation design was evaluated and found to be insignificant due to the relatively low level of loading as compared to the capacity of the soil.     

海上风电楔形单桩基础竖向承载力特性分析

为提高基础利用率增加海上风电设施的可行性，对楔形单桩基础竖向承载力特性进行研究分析。采用PLAXIS 3D 有限元软件建立楔形单桩基础模型，从桩侧摩阻力、桩侧法应力及土体位移对比分析楔形单桩基础与等截面单桩竖向承载特性差异，并探讨内摩擦角、楔角及楔高对承载力的影响。研究表明：楔形单桩基础竖向承载力高于等截面单桩基础，且承载力随着楔角、楔高的增大而增大，提高率最大达24.786%。倾斜侧壁的引入改变了桩侧摩阻力的传递规律；倾斜侧壁挤密桩周土体，桩侧摩阻力与法向应力增大，从而有效提高单桩基础的竖向承载力。研究成果可为今后海上风电单桩基础截面型式的设计提供参考。     

桩基尺寸对砂土中水平受荷桩-土作用力的影响

p-y 曲线法在水平受荷桩的设计中得到了广泛应用,然而近年来在海上风机超大直径单桩基础设计中受到了学术界和工程界的质疑,当前研究表明,桩基尺寸是产生这一问题的主要原因。本文通过三维数值仿真技术,研究了砂土地基中水平受荷桩-土作用特征的演变规律,探讨了当前超大直径单桩设计方法存在的主要问题及产生的原因。计算结果显示：超大直径单桩基础因其桩径大、长径比（入土长度与直径的比） 小的尺寸特征,在水平荷载作用下桩土作用具有明显的三维空间效应,即除受水平向土反力外,还受到桩端水平向的摩擦力、沿桩身不均匀摩阻力产生的抵抗力矩及桩底不均匀土反力提供的抵抗力矩;进一步研究表明,后三类抗力对桩基水平承载力的贡献占比与桩基尺寸有关,即桩基直径越大、长径比越小,这些抗力的贡献越大。因此,在水平受荷超大直径单桩承载特性计算与分析的过程中,除当前水平向p-y 弹簧提供的抗力外,还应考虑桩底的水平剪力、桩身摩擦力和桩底反力不平衡产生的抵抗力矩。     

波浪荷载及土体特性对风电单桩基础水平变形影响规律

大直径单桩基础是海上风电应用广泛的一种基础形式,严格控制桩基泥面处的位移是保证基础稳定和风机安全运营的关键因素.通过数值方法建立了单桩—海床的三维模型,将可以描述海洋砂土超固结性和结构性的弹塑性本构模型通过UMAT子程序嵌入有限元软件ABAQUS中,桩基承受的波浪荷载通过Morison方程进行计算模拟.针对无波浪荷载、仅作用于海床的波浪荷载、同时作用于桩基和海床的波浪荷载三种情况,分析了海床土的动力响应以及桩基的水平位移之间的差异,探讨了海床土体参数对桩基水平变形的影响.研究结果表明海床土体液化会导致桩基水平变形增加,海床土渗透性、超固结性、结构性对桩基水平位移影响显著,研究成果可为海上风电单桩基础的设计与运维提供参考.     

Analysis and Design of Monopile Foundations for Offshore Wind-Turbine Structures

Offshore wind turbines (OWTs) are generally supported by large-diameter monopiles, with the combination of axial forces, lateral forces, bending moments, and torsional moments generated by the OWT structure and various environmental factors resisted by earth pressures mobilized in the soil foundation. The lateral loading on the monopile foundation is essentially cyclic in nature and typically of low amplitude. This state-of-the-art review paper presents details on the geometric design, nominal size, and structural and environmental loading for existing and planned OWT structures supported by monopile foundations. Pertinent ocean-environment loading conditions, including methods of calculation using site-specific data, are described along with wave particle kinematics, focusing on correlations between the loading frequency and natural vibration frequency of the OWT structure. Existing methods for modeling soil under cyclic loading are reviewed, focusing in particular on strain accumulation models that consider pile–soil interaction under cyclic lateral loading. Inherent limitations/shortcomings of these models for the analysis and design of existing and planned OWT monopile foundations are discussed. A design example of an OWT support structure having a monopile foundation system is presented. Target areas for further research by the wind-energy sector, which would facilitate the development of improved analyses/design methods for offshore monopiles, are identified.     

Driving energy losses for constant diameter and tapered submerged monopiles

Large monopiles are used as foundations for offshore wind turbines and are generally designed with a tapered section or conical shape. Some loss of driving energy is expected to occur during installation of these structures due to the submerged section of the tapered monopile. The current literature on this subject is limited and indicates rather large losses compared to field observations.A numerical model of the monopile–water–soil system was set up in the general-purpose finite element package Abaqus. By simulating the hammer impact and the resulting stress wave propagation through the monopile and water, the energy losses to be expected can be calculated accurately. The model was verified against independent finite element analyses and experimental data.A parametric study was performed and the effect of hammer characteristics, submerged monopile length and monopile geometry on the driving energy losses were quantified. The results enable a simple relationship between the energy losses and the monopile geometry to be proposed which increases linearly with pile diameter, taper angle, and submerged length. The losses are typically on the order of 0.15–0.3% per metre submerged length for large tapered monopiles.     

支撑结构频率对海上风机动力响应的影响机理研究

海上支撑结构的优化设计是海上风机技术发展的必然趋势,降低支撑结构的载荷是保证风机安全运行的有效途径。海上支撑结构受到风浪复杂环境荷载作用,风、浪载荷决定着塔底承受较大的剪力和倾覆力矩,同时风浪的随机性和周期性会影响塔架的疲劳载荷。基于海上风机支撑结构频率对载荷影响的研究,分析海上支撑结构频率对叶片根部挥舞和摆振响应的影响,探究频率对风机响应的影响机理。研究表明：波浪频率诱导是基础疲劳载荷响应的主要原因;开展单桩基础设计,当整机频率确定时,基础变径段可设置于浪溅区下部区域范围;叶片摆振响应受1P频率影响较大,在风机设计时可增加叶片摆振方向的阻尼;当整机频率邻近3P频率时,塔筒刚度变化对基础载荷响应的影响大于基础刚度变化;海上支撑结构设计时可优先考虑塔筒刚度。     

Probabilistic analysis of offshore wind turbines under extreme resonant response: Application of environmental contour method

Offshore wind turbines can exhibit dynamic resonant behavior due to sea states with wave excitation frequencies coinciding with the structural eigenfrequencies. In addition to significant contributions to fatigue actions, dynamic load amplification can govern extreme wind turbine responses. However, current design requirements lack specifications for assessment of resonant loads, particularly during parked or idling conditions where aerodynamic damping contributions are significantly reduced. This study demonstrates a probabilistic approach for assessment of offshore wind turbines under extreme resonant responses during parked situations. Based on in-situ metocean observations on the North Sea, the environmental contour method is used to establish relevant design conditions. A case study on a feasible large monopile design showed that resonant loads can govern the design loads. The presented framework can be applied to assess the reliability of wave-sensitive offshore wind turbine structures for a given site-specific metocean conditions and support structure design.     

海上风电基础结构动力分析

针对单桩、三桩、四桩导管架3种常规海上风电基础结构型式动力特性展开研究。以模态分析为基础,获得结构整体固有频率和振型;进而综合运用谐响应分析、瞬态分析、谱分析等方法,对基础结构在简谐荷载、冲击荷载、地震荷载及波浪荷载作用下的动力响应特性进行了数值模拟计算和分析。结果显示:本设计中的单桩、三桩、四桩基础结构刚度依次增大,一阶固有频率递增;对于相同的动力荷载激励,基础结构动力响应递减;基础结构设计中既要保证结构具有足够的刚度以满足荷载作用下的变形控制要求,还要使基础刚度适中以避免共振。为海上风电基础结构动力分析提供了参考。     

海上风电大直径加翼桩水平承载性能研究

为改善海上风电大直径钢管桩的水平承载性能,基于ABAQUS有限元软件对单桩改进形式的加翼桩结构进行了系统研究,计算分析了软黏土地基中加翼桩在水平荷载作用下桩身弯矩、应力、位移、桩身泥面处倾斜率和极限承载力,研究了加翼桩面积、形状、埋深和刚度等翼板参数对加翼桩水平承载性能的影响规律,根据加翼桩的桩-土作用机理,参考现行规范模式提出适用于软黏土地基大直径钢管桩的P-Y曲线。研究结果表明,加翼桩通过在泥面处设置翼板可降低桩基泥面处倾斜率50%、提高桩基极限承载力60%以上,加翼桩水平承载性能明显优于单桩。     

Calculation and analysis of negative skin of monopile applied for offshore wind turbine

Monopiles are considered to be as a kind of viable foundation types for offshore wind turbines. The effect of negative skin friction on pile foundation is always an important problem. There are very important theoretical and practical significance to study the distribution law of negative skin friction and the calculation method. Based on the special stratum, the stress and strain of the monopile and soil are simplified, and the improved Kezdi’s double-broken-line model is adopted. The analytical solution of negative skin friction of monopile is deduced according to the degree of skin friction. An engineering case was analyzed by the method, and the calculated results agree well with the measured data. The calculation method proposed can accurately describe the range of the monopile skin frictional distribution and the position of the neutral point, and it is simple and convenient to calculate, that is also a feasible method for calculating the negative skin friction of monopile of offshore wind turbines in practical engineering.     

Experimental Study on the Cyclic Behavior of Monopiles in Fine Sandy Beds Under Regular Waves

This paper presents an experimental study on the wave-induced behavior of monopiles. Laboratory experiments were conducted at the constant initial state of the sandy beds in a wave flume with a soil trench. The responses of the pile-head displacement, the pile strain and the pore water pressure on regular waves were investigated. The experimental results show that the monopiles lean along the direction of the wave progression and the inclination increases with the duration of wave actions. The pile-head displacement (consisting of the permanent displacement and cyclic displacement) increases as the wave height increases, especially more significantly for the permanent displacement. The head-fixed pile suffers from larger wave load than that on the head-free pile under the same wave condition. Increasing pile diameter or fixing fins on the monopile is effective in reducing the pore water pressure in the upper part of the bed and the permanent displacement.     

Load-bearing behavior of suction bucket foundations in sand

Suction buckets are a promising foundation solution for offshore wind energy systems. The bearing behavior of monopod buckets under drained monotonic loading in very dense and medium dense sand is investigated in this study by means of numerical simulation with the finite element method. Special focus is given to the ultimate capacity and the initial stiffness of the bucket-soil foundation system. The numerical model is validated by comparison with field test results. The bearing behavior of the structure is explained through an evaluation of a reference system. It is shown that the bucket experiences a heave during horizontal loading, which leads to the formation of a gap between the bucket lid and the soil with increasing load. At large loads and rotations close to failure of the system there is no contact between lid and soil, and the whole load is transferred to the soil via the bucket skirt. A parametric study shows how the ultimate capacity and initial stiffness of the system depend on the bucket dimensions and loading conditions, i.e. load eccentricity. Normalized equations for ultimate capacity and initial stiffness are derived from the numerical simulation results, which can be used in the scope of a preliminary design for buckets in sand.     

大直径单桩风机基础冰荷载模型试验研究

针对渤海某海域以单桩结构为支撑的海上风电系统,对大直径直立桩风机基础进行了一系列静冰载荷模型试验研究。首先,针对目标海域海冰调研结果确定多个冰速工况,对3 MW及4 MW装机功率对应的两种不同直径的单桩基础开展静冰载荷模型试验;随后在试验现象及试验结果的分析中重点关注了冰排在大直径结构前的破坏模式及破坏特点;最终,通过对比模型试验冰力极值试验结果与多规范冰载荷计算结果,确定大直径直立桩静冰载荷计算规范的合理选择,并根据试验结果对直立桩静冰载荷计算方法进行了经验参数修正。得出的相关结论可为渤海海域大直径单桩式风机基础冰载荷的工程估算提供参考。     

Incorporating irregular nonlinear waves in coupled simulation and reliability studies of offshore wind turbines

Design of an offshore wind turbine requires estimation of loads on its rotor, tower and supporting structure. These loads are obtained by time-domain simulations of the coupled aero-servo-hydro-elastic model of the wind turbine. Accuracy of predicted loads depends on assumptions made in the simulation models employed, both for the turbine and for the input wind and wave conditions. Currently, waves are simulated using a linear irregular wave theory that is not appropriate for nonlinear waves, which are even more pronounced in shallow water depths where wind farms are typically sited. The present study investigates the use of irregular nonlinear (second-order) waves for estimating loads on the support structure (monopile) of an offshore wind turbine. We present the theory for the irregular nonlinear model and incorporate it in the commonly used wind turbine simulation software, FAST, which had been developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), but which had the modeling capability only for irregular linear waves. We use an efficient algorithm for computation of nonlinear wave elevation and kinematics, so that a large number of time-domain simulations, which are required for prediction of long-term loads using statistical extrapolation, can easily be performed. To illustrate the influence of the alternative wave models, we compute loads at the base of the monopile of the NREL 5MW baseline wind turbine model using linear and nonlinear irregular wave models. We show that for a given environmental condition (i.e., the mean wind speed and the significant wave height), extreme loads are larger when computed using the nonlinear wave model. We finally compute long-term loads, which are required for a design load case according to the International Electrotechnical Commission guidelines, using the inverse first-order reliability method. We discuss a convergence criteria that may be used to predict accurate 20-year loads and discuss wind versus wave dominance in the load prediction. We show that 20-year long-term loads can be significantly higher when the nonlinear wave model is used.     

Numerical investigations of soil plugging effect inside large-diameter,open-ended wind turbine monopiles driven by vibratory hammers

Abstract

This study established a Couple Eulerian–Lagrange model to simulate monopile vibratory penetration for the investigation of soil plugging effect during high-frequency penetration of monopiles for wind turbine. Simulation analysis is focused particularly on soil plugging effect of a large diameter monopile during vibratory penetration into sand, clay, or layered soil. The results of the numerical simulation show that soil plugging effect is unlikely to occur during monopile penetration into the clay soil, while partial soil plugging may occur during the sand penetration. Penetration resistance at the pile toe is transferred to the radial stress around the pile wall. At a critical point penetration process, internal shaft friction becomes larger than external shaft friction. Moreover, radial pressure factors increase during partial soil plugging effect. For layered soil, the topsoil not only has great influence on the soil plugging effect, but also affects shaft friction in the subsoil during monopile penetration.     

风、浪荷载作用下海上风机单桩结构灌浆连接段疲劳性能评价

灌浆连接段的疲劳性能对于海上风机单桩支撑结构至关重要。基于385种工况下的某实际5 MW单桩风机支撑结构在风、浪荷载作用下的动力响应分析,获取了灌浆连接段荷载边界条件时程。建立灌浆连接段精细化有限元子模型,将荷载边界条件转化为应力时程。对于剪力键采用"热点应力"方法进行疲劳性能评价。对于灌浆材料,选取剪力键附近灌浆材料单元积分点处的第三主应力进行疲劳性能评价。采用Palmgren-Miner线性损伤累计准则和雨流计数方法进行疲劳损伤的累计。在某实际灌浆连接段20年的设计寿命周期内,最大剪力键总疲劳损伤为1.35×10~(-10);最大灌浆材料总疲劳损伤为1.54×10~(-3)。由此可见,灌浆连接段的疲劳性能由灌浆材料控制,且损伤值远小于限值1/3,在现有的荷载条件下,灌浆连接段不会发生疲劳破坏。分析产生损伤较大的几种工况可知,风速对现有单桩结构灌浆连接段疲劳的损伤起控制作用。     

Impact of climate change on dynamic behavior of offshore wind turbine

Global warming is expected to change the wind and wave patterns at a significant level, which may lead to conditions outside current design criteria of monopile supported offshore wind turbine (OWT). This study examines the impact of climate change on the dynamic behavior and future safety of an OWT founded in clay incorporating dynamic soil–structure interaction. A statistical downscaling model is used to generate the time series of future wind speed and wave height at local level. The responses and fatigue life of OWT are estimated for present and future periods and extent of change in design is investigated at offshore location along the west coast of India. Wind speed, wave height, and wave period data are collected from the buoy deployed by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services and the future climate for the next 30 years is simulated using the general circulation model corresponding to Special Report on Emission Scenarios A1B scenario. The OWT is modeled as Euler–Bernoulli beam and soil–structure interaction is incorporated using nonlinear p-y springs. This study shows that changes in design of OWT are needed due to increased responses owing to the effect of climate change. Fatigue life is found to be decreased because of climate change.     

海上风电单桩式支撑结构冰激振动及参数敏感性分析

针对渤海湾某风电场的海上固定式风机支撑结构,采用适用于大直径单桩结构的PSI曲线模拟桩土相互作用,并采用SACS软件建立支撑结构的动力分析模型。首先对支撑结构进行模态分析;其次考虑海冰结构的随机振动作用模式,根据适用于渤海湾的随机冰力谱构造随机冰载荷时程曲线,基于半耦合的时域方法,采用SACS软件对支撑结构进行冰激振动分析,输出塔筒顶部加速度、单桩基底剪力及倾覆力矩等响应参数的时程曲线和响应功率谱;最后针对冰厚、冰速和海冰强度等海冰参数对支撑结构的冰激振动进行敏感性分析。研究结果表明,在随机振动模式下,冰载荷及结构动力响应对冰厚和海冰强度较为敏感,在进行冰激振动分析时应合理确定冰厚和海冰强度等参数。     

A Crashworthy Device Against Ship-OWT Collision and Its Protection Effects on the Tower of Offshore Wind Farms

At present,more and more offshore wind farms have been built and numerous projects are on the drawing tables.Therefore,the study on the safety of collision between ships and offshore wind turbines (OWT) is of great practical significance.The present study takes the advantage of the famous LS-DYNA explicit code to simulate the dynamic process of the collision between a typical 3MW offshore wind turbine model with monopile foundation and a simplified 2000t-class ship model.In the simulation,the added mass eff...