Fatigue design for prevailing axially loaded grouted connections of offshore wind turbine support structures in deeper waters

authored by

Peter Schaumann, Anne Bechtel, Stephan Lochte-Holtgreven

Abstract

Jacket substructures of Offshore Wind Turbines are connected to the foundation piles by grouted connections with high performance grout fillings. Geometric dimensions and material strength of these connections deviate from current offshore design standards. Valid design recommendations for the fatigue design of grouted joints with additional mechanical interlocks are not available. Within this paper the load carrying behavior of axially loaded grouted connections filled with high performance grout materials is introduced. The state-of-the-art for design of grouted connections under prevailing axial loads is presented and the influencing parameters in fatigue of steel members of hybrid connections are identified. Local approaches for fatigue of steel structures are introduced and transferred to fatigue design of steel members in grouted connections. Within the BMU-research project 'GROW-Grouted Structures for Offshore Wind Turbines' several experimental investigations on grouted connections for Offshore Wind Turbines were carried out at the Institute for Steel Construction, Hannover. Preliminary results of ultimate and fatigue tests are presented and used to benchmark different implemented numerical models of grouted connections. Under variable stress distributions fatigue design parameters are numerically conducted and the applicability of local approaches is checked. Finally design recommendations for axially loaded grouted joints are given.

Organisation(s)

ForWind

Type

Conference contribution

Pages

2396-2421

No. of pages

26

Publication date

2010

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy