Research PaperNo Access

Seismic Response of Monopile-Supported OWT Structure Considering Effect of Long-Term Cyclic Loading

College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325000, P. R. China

The Key Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering of Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, P. R. China

E-mail Address: xcs_2017@163.com

Corresponding author.

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Chunyi Cui

Department of Civil Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, P. R. China

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M. Hesham El Naggar

Western University Geotechnical Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9, Canada

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, and

Xiuli Du

The Key Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering of Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, P. R. China

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https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219455423500992Cited by:4 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

Offshore wind turbine (OWT) structures are subject to wave, wind, and seismic loading. Due to the cyclic nature of these loads, OWT foundations can be vulnerable to cumulative deformation and liquefaction triggered by waves and earthquakes. The effects of cumulative deformation and liquefaction on the monopile-supported OWT are not fully appreciated. This paper develops a three-dimensional numerical model for analyzing the seismic performance of large monopile-supported OWT under the long-term effect of cyclic loading. The numerical model was established employing FLAC3D and utilizing SANISAND constitutive model to simulate the soil behavior. The numerical model was validated by comparing its predictions with the results of dynamic triaxial tests and centrifuge tests. A simplified densification and subsidence site model was integrated into the numerical model to facilitate considering the long-term effect of cyclic loading. The numerical model was then used to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the influence of long-term cyclic loading on the natural frequency and seismic response of OWT structure. The results demonstrated that the densified subsidence zone around monopile increased the liquefaction resistance. However, the horizontal displacement of pile and the response acceleration of tower-top increased due to soil subsidence around monopile.

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