Modified fragility functions for offshore wind turbines considering soil-structure interaction subjected to wind, wave, and seismic loads

Abstract

Investment allocation for offshore wind turbines (OWT) as an important class of structures is typically carried out through supporting decision-making approaches utilizing some fragility functions. This study attempts to deliver fragility functions for OWTs on monopile foundations accounting for soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects. Simultaneous wind, wave, and earthquake loads were considered probabilistically by adjusting their occurrence hazard levels for predefined damage states in diverse performance levels. The designated damage states in this study are defined based on collapse probability and some targeted performance levels which could be very straightforward to distinguish. The damage state detection is based on rotation in the connection section of the tower’s transition part to the foundation, which perceptibly reveals the effects of SSI on fragility functions. The expected results comprise modified fragility functions accounting for SSI effects contributing to less median spectral acceleration, more evidently rotational demands, further dispersions, and a subsequent dominant increase in the probability of exceeding performance limit states. Considering operational performance level, the most applied design performance level for turbines as an important class of structures, not considering the SSI effects could noticeably underestimate the demands and lead to high-risk decisions.