Model Tests on the Penetration Resistance of Bucket Foundations for Offshore Wind Turbines in Sand

Abstract

Driven by the rapid development of offshore wind farms, bucket foundations have come to constitute a very promising form of foundation for offshore wind turbines, mainly owing to their efficient construction. However, the penetration resistance of the suction penetration of a bucket foundation, when calculated inaccurately, may lead to installation failure of the foundation. In this study, model tests were performed on the suction penetration of a mono-bucket mono-compartment foundation and a mono-bucket multi-compartment foundation in saturated fine marine sand, aiming to compare their penetration resistances and critical suctions, and the development of a soil plug in the two models was analyzed. The results will provide a design reference for the penetration construction of bucket foundations for offshore wind turbines.