Evaluation of Soil–Foundation–Structure Interaction for Large Diameter Monopile Foundation Focusing on Lateral Cyclic Loading

Abstract

In this study, the monotonic and cyclic behavior of an offshore wind turbine with a monopile foundation installed in a sand layer were evaluated in the centrifuge. A simplified offshore wind turbine was modeled, and the lateral load was applied to the tower under displacement control. The monotonic loading test evaluated ultimate lateral load capacity and bending moment profiles under different loading levels. During cyclic loading, variations of moment-rotation responses, cyclic stiffness, and bending moments along the pile were observed. The initial rotational stiffness of the monopile decreased as the loading level increased. In the fatigue limit state (FLS) and service limit state (SLS) loading conditions, no noticeable variation in stiffness was observed with the number of cycles. However, in the ultimate limit state (ULS), the stiffness of the monopile increased during the first few cycles, followed by a decreasing rate of increase, and reached a certain value. The loading rate had a weakening effect on the monopile–soil interaction, which was supported by the bending moments induced in the monopile.