Numerical analysis of suction bucket foundations used for offshore wind turbines

Abstract

Offshore wind energy is one of the promising and fast-growing renewable energy sources in the world. Due to cost-effectiveness and easy installation, suction buckets can be considered viable and reliable foundation solution for offshore wind turbines. In this study, three-dimensional finite element analyses were performed to evaluate the load-bearing behavior of the bucket foundations under cyclic and monotonic loading conditions. The effect of various loading conditions and foundation geometries installed in different soil properties were examined. Considering three different embedment ratios of bucket foundation, load-displacement and moment-rotation curves were developed. A parametric analysis of suction caisson reveals that the ultimate capacity and initial stiffness are highly dependent on the bucket geometry, loading conditions and soil properties. The results from cyclic loading conditions show that the accumulated rotation of the bucket foundation with smallest embedment ratio installed in medium dense sand was exceeded the allowable title which results in failure under such loading conditions. ? Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019.