Alternative Numerical Pile Foundation Models for Integrated Analyses of Monopile-based Offshore Wind Turbines

Abstract

Lowering the cost for offshore wind energy remains a major challenge. Increasing the accuracy of analysis tools used in the design and optimization process can strengthen the reliability and reduce conservatism, thereby leading to a more cost-efficient design. Although considerable development has been made on representing the interaction between wind, waves and structural aspects in integrated analyses of offshore wind turbines, the modelling of the foundation remains unrefined. The assumptions and shortcomings of the existing models are identified, and alternatives for a better representation of the foundation response are presented and discussed.