Research article
04 Jul 2017
Research article | 04 Jul 2017
Effect of foundation modelling on the fatigue lifetime of a monopile-based offshore wind turbine
Steffen Aasen1, Ana M. Page2,3, Kristoffer Skjolden Skau2,3, and Tor Anders Nygaard1
Steffen Aasen et al.
Steffen Aasen1, Ana M. Page2,3, Kristoffer Skjolden Skau2,3, and Tor Anders Nygaard1
- 1Institute for Energy Technology, P.O. Box 40, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
- 2Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Sognsveien 72, 0855 Oslo, Norway
- 3Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Civil
and Transport Engineering, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- 1Institute for Energy Technology, P.O. Box 40, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
- 2Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Sognsveien 72, 0855 Oslo, Norway
- 3Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Civil
and Transport Engineering, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Correspondence: Tor Anders Nygaard (tor.anders.nygaard@ife.no)
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Received: 21 Oct 2016 – Discussion started: 09 Dec 2016 – Revised: 18 Apr 2017 – Accepted: 10 May 2017 – Published: 04 Jul 2017
Abstract. Several studies have emphasized the importance of modelling foundation response with representative damping and stiffness characteristics in integrated analyses of offshore wind turbines (OWTs). For the monopile foundation, the industry standard for pile analysis has shown to be inaccurate, and alternative models that simulate foundation behaviour more accurately are needed. As fatigue damage is a critical factor in the design phase, this study investigates how four different soil-foundation models affect the fatigue damage of an OWT with a monopile foundation. This study shows how both stiffness and damping properties have a noticeable effect on the fatigue damage, in particular for idling cases. At mud-line, accumulated fatigue damage varied up to 22 % depending on the foundation model used.
