STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS INTEGRATION METHODOLOGY FOR GRAVITY-BASED FOUNDATION DESIGN OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES IN BRAZIL

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.3174262401111

• Palavras-chave: dynamic simulations, offshore foundations, concrete structures, wind tower

• Keywords: dynamic simulations, offshore foundations, concrete structures, wind tower

• Abstract: Renewable energy sources have become an increasingly attractive alternative to fossil fuels thanks to technological advances and environmental care. The Brazilian Northeast Region has experienced significant development of wind farms, with notable rates of growth and energy generation. The positive results of these parks demonstrate the enormous potential for generating energy from offshore wind turbines, leading to less visual and acoustic impacts. Most offshore wind turbines use monopile foundations and gravity-based foundations; however, due to the calcareous and sandy soil characteristics in the Northeast of Brazil, the use of fixed monopile foundations becomes more challenging, making gravity-based foundations more attractive solutions. The authors apply a methodology to tackle the various aspects related to the engineering behind the technology, following a combination of numerical systems to account for aspects such as environmental loads and tower dynamics. The cyclic nature of the loading and the soil-structure interaction are accounted for, and design criteria such as long-term damage in the reinforced concrete, ultimate limit strength, soil bearing capacity, and displacements are evaluated against international standards for a case study. This paper aims to address the challenges related to the numerical representation of gravity-based foundations applicable for shallow water offshore wind turbines.