Centrifuge modelling of seismically loaded monopiles: DONISIS – Model Creation and Site Response
Centrifuge modelling of seismically loaded monopiles: DONISIS – Model Creation and Site Response
Increasing demand for offshore wind energy is driving the need for ever larger offshore wind turbines (OWTs) in more challenging environments, including seismically active regions. The effects of earthquake loading on large diameter monopiles supporting OWTs is therefore an increasingly relevant topic, requiring further investigation. Such structures can be physically modelled in a geotechnical centrifuge. Such modelling requires correct simulation of both dynamic soil and structural response, as well as the reproduction of excess pore water pressure (EPWP) generation. Several advanced modelling techniques are required to produce reliable results. This work presents the detailed preparation, construction and design of such an experimental campaign for a large diameter monopile supporting an OWT in liquefiable soil. The soil is prepared using a viscous fluid solution for proper scaling of permeability, and is instrumented with pore pressure transducers (PPTs) and displacement sensors. The soil layer is constructed within a special laminar box, which reproduces boundary conditions consistent with 1-D seismic wave propagation. Results show that the mobilised soil properties can be deduced from the recorded site response, strain level leads to a change in system response and significant pore pressures can develop even when soil permeability is overestimated.
Liam Jones; Eva Brunschweiler; S. Panagoulias; F. Pisano; Evangelos Kementzetzidis; I. Anastasopoulos
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Special Session 2: Seismic behaviour of offshore foundations from dynamic centrifuge testing
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-346