Numerical Simulation and Tests of Lateral Bearing Capacity of Sloped Offshore Monopile Under Vertical Load and Lateral Cyclic Load

Abstract

Offshore monopile foundations endure complex loads during service. They bear vertical loads from the superstructure’s self-weight and lateral cyclic loads (e.g., wind, waves), while near-coastal seabeds are usually sloped. To resolve these issues, model pile tests under combined vertical and lateral cyclic loads were carried out to study how slope angle and vertical load affect monopile deformation. A numerical model was validated via comparison with test results and then used to reveal the development of cumulative deformation in offshore sloped monopiles under the above combined loads. The results show that, below 1000 cycles, the cumulative displacement of the pile increases logarithmically with the number of cycles. As the slope angle increases, the cumulative deformation increases. In these tests, the cumulative deformation of the pile increases by 114% compared to the results of the flat site, but it decreases with an increase in vertical load. As such, when a 3 N vertical load is applied to the pile top, its deformation at the flat site decreases by 20%, but its deformation at a 20° slope site decreases by 10%. Finally, a predicted formula is proposed for offshore monopiles with the effect of slope angle, and this formula can provide a preliminary assessment method of cumulative.

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