Integrating physical testing and numerical modeling to investigate behavior of monopiles under lateral cyclic loading
Integrating physical testing and numerical modeling to investigate behavior of monopiles under lateral cyclic loading
Accurate prediction of response under cyclic lateral loading remains challenging for monopile foundations supporting offshore wind turbines (OWTs). This study proposes an integrated physical-numerical framework to improve the understanding and prediction of pile response under drained monotonic and cyclic lateral loading in sand. Model tests were performed on a well-controlled instrumented pile (diameter 0.27 m, length 4 m; 1.1 m embedded) in dense dry sand, recording load-displacement behavior in order to derive secant stiffness evolution, hysteresis, and ratcheting displacements. These data form the basis for validating finite element analyses with advanced constitutive models. To reproduce the monotonic response, the Hardening Soil Small Strain model is applied in PLAXIS 3D and used to calibrate stiffness and strength parameters of the SANISAND-MS model. The Sanisand-MS model is employed to capture cyclic behaviors. The combined methodology provides insights into the constitutive behavior of soil, helping to bridge the gap between observed responses in the physical model and the overall behavior and performance of the monopile. The analysis reveals that the depth of the point of rotation of monopile is not a static parameter but changes through cyclic loading. In addition, a significant dilation of the sand in the vicinity of the monopile near the soil surface was recorded, changing from an initial state of e = 0.71 at the first cycle to e = 0.79 by the 100th cycle.
Anteneh Masresha Zerihun; Hans Petter Jostad; Gudmund Reidar Eiksund
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Special Session 6: Physical modelling for life-cycle foundation management
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-381