Buy article PDF
The purchased file will be sent to you
via email after the payment is completed.
US$ 35
|
Structural Engineering and Mechanics Volume 98, Number 2, April25 2026 , pages 189-209 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/.2026.98.2.189 |
|
|
|
A simplified procedure for analyzing offshore wind turbines with suction and traditional piles under soil liquefaction |
||
Shen-Haw Ju, Chen-Yeh Liu
|
||
| Abstract | ||
| This article investigates the structural analysis and design of offshore wind turbine (OWT) support structures using both traditional and suction piles under soil liquefaction. A finite element model centered on a single suction pile was first generated to evaluate depth-dependent excess pore water pressure (EPWP) ratios near and away from the pile under liquefaction conditions. Findings reveal that suction piles exhibit substantial internal resistance to soil liquefaction, as shown by lower EPWP ratios inside the pile, which enhances soil stability and shear capacity. This resistance diminishes with distance from the pile, highlighting the stabilizing role of confined soil and water within the pile. Using depth-dependent EPWP ratios, the study establishes envelope curves for suction and traditional piles to adjust soil spring stiffness during liquefaction, aiding in structural analyses under diverse design load cases (DLCs) for OWT support structures. Results indicate that liquefaction-related conditions are not the primary factor influencing steel usage; rather, non-liquefaction DLCs govern design demands. Additionally, suction piles often require more steel than traditional piles due to installation pressures, though they remain competitive in deep waters. Settlement and tilting issues, particularly in liquefiable soils, underscore the need for careful design of suction piles on sandy seabeds. | ||
| Key Words | ||
| earthquake; excess pore water pressure; finite element analysis; offshore wind turbine; soil liquefaction; structural steel design; suction pile | ||
| Address | ||
| Shen-Haw Ju, Chen-Yeh Liu: Department of Civil Engineering, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan | ||