Distinct-element analysis of an offshore wind turbine monopile under cyclic lateral load

Abstract

This paper presents a distinct-element method study of the dynamic behaviour of a rigid bored monopile for an offshore wind turbine foundation subject to force-controlled cyclic lateral loads. A two-dimensional model of a granular assembly was developed using the particle flow code. The model was consolidated under high gravity to simulate existing centrifuge model tests. The simulation results showed great similarity to the published experimental measurements in terms of the relationship between loading and the normalised lateral displacement. The dependency of the accumulated rotation, lateral deflection and stiffness on the two key loading characteristics, loading magnitude and direction, were analysed. Particle-scale information was employed to reveal the micromechanics of these dynamic behaviours. It was seen that relative particle displacement fields provided clear micro-scale evidence of the development of shear zones induced by the lateral cyclic loading of the pile. Meanwhile, local void densification was also observed through particle movements.