ADVANCING MULTI-SCALE PHYSICAL MODELLING AND BESPOKE MONITORING FOR OFFSHORE WIND FOUNDATIONS THROUGH A NATIONAL RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

Publication Title
ADVANCING MULTI-SCALE PHYSICAL MODELLING AND BESPOKE MONITORING FOR OFFSHORE WIND FOUNDATIONS THROUGH A NATIONAL RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

Abstract

ProWind is a new Norwegian national research infrastructure supporting the transition and sustainable development of offshore wind foundation systems. Funded by the Research Council of Norway, ProWind supports research across three integrated nodes: 1) an experimental node in Oslo, featuring advanced element test equipment for dynamic and multi-directional soil testing across a broad range of strains, a geotechnical mini-centrifuge for versatile enhanced-gravity model testing, and a model test bin equipped with a bespoke 4 degree-of-freedom actuator for 1-g experimental modelling; 2) a mobile node with a portable, high-capacity bespoke load actuator and full-size instrumented suction bucket for field-scale foundation installation and testing under realistic offshore environmental loading conditions; and 3) an offshore environment node, including the Marine Energy Test Centre, focusing on comprehensive monitoring of meteorological conditions, floating structure response, and anthropogenic effects on marine ecosystem dynamics through an integrated suite of instrumentation and observation technologies. All nodes are interoperable and supported by a shared digital infrastructure. ProWind aims to reduce design conservatism and facilitate novel foundation designs, promote education and research collaboration across geotechnical and environmental engineering disciplines, and enhance the efficiency, reproducibility, and relevance of physical modelling and monitoring. This paper presents the vision, background, technical scope, and implementation strategy of ProWind, and invites the international community to engage with the platform in advancing offshore geotechnical engineering and environmental monitoring.

Authors
Oyvind Blaker; Changxin Lyu; P. Carotenuto; Victor Bjorn Smith; Martin Markman; Adam Jon Andrews; Monica Bardsen

Published In

11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)

Theme

Session 1: New facilities, new equipment, and measuring techniques