Introduction to Structural Analysis of Pre-Piled Grouted Connections

Energy point of view
Jackets substructures are connected to the seabed by pile-sleeve pile connection joints with a grout material. From 2009 many wind farms in the North Sea have reported problems and failures related to these grout joints. These problems have jeopardised the operation of wind farms, which had to face long periods of maintenance to fix them in order to avoid the structural collapse of the wind turbines.

Furthermore, these problems have been the main limitation in the operation of off-shore wind farms and that is the reason why is extremely important to design reliable grout joints that can withstand the strains due to the wind loads on the wind turbine and the wave loads on the jacket substructures. By doing this, the normal operation of offshore wind farms can be secured without annual energy production being endangered by risk of structural collapse.

The aim of this part of the project is the study of joints as means of guaranteeing the correct operation of offshore wind farms and their energy production without unexpected events coming from foundation failures.


© 2014 - University of Strathclyde