Abstract
The paper presents the development of a three-dimensional finite-element model for pile tests in dense Dunkirk sand, conducted as part of the PISA project. The project was aimed at developing improved design methods for laterally loaded piles, as used in offshore wind turbine foundations. The importance of the consistent and integrated interpretation of the soil data from laboratory and field investigations is particularly emphasised. The chosen constitutive model for sand is an enhanced version of the state parameter-based bounding surface plasticity model, which, crucially, is able to reproduce the dependency of sand behaviour on void ratio and stress level. The predictions from three-dimensional finite-element analyses, performed before the field tests, show good agreement with the measured behaviour, proving the adequacy of the developed numerical model and the calibration process for the constitutive model. This numerical model directly facilitated the development of new soil reaction curves for use in Winkler-type design models for laterally loaded piles in natural marine sands.
Highlights
The PISA project combined ground characterisation, field testing and computational analysis to develop new design models for large-diameter monopiles as offshore wind turbine foundations
The current paper presents the development of a 3D FE model for the test piles installed in sand and compares the numerical predictions of pile behaviour, obtained before the testing under lateral loading took
(a) Rigorous integration of soil data from laboratory and field investigations, applying sound engineering judgement, is a key to (i) establishing realistic initial ground conditions on the site and (ii) enabling detailed calibration of the chosen constitutive model. The latter is an enhanced version of the state-parameter-based bounding surface plasticity model developed by Taborda et al (2014). (b) The constitutive model’s advanced features, reflected in its ability to reproduce the dependency of sand behaviour on stress level and void ratio, are critical for the correct simulation of the observed behaviour of test piles, in terms of load–displacement curves as well as embedded deflected shapes and bending moments
Summary
The PISA (pile–soil analysis) project combined ground characterisation, field testing and computational analysis to develop new design models for large-diameter monopiles as offshore wind turbine foundations.
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