Abstract:
The development of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) is gradually moving toward deeper seas, where jacket foundations serve as the preferred support structure for large OWTs in deep seas. To investigate the seismic failure modes of multi-caisson jacket foundations in liquefiable interlayer ground, dynamic centrifuge tests are conducted using the TK-C500 large-scale geotechnical centrifuge-shaking table system installed at the Tianjin Transport Engineering Research Institute. Based on non-equal stress similarity theory, a scaled model of the multi-caisson jacket foundation supporting a large OWT is designed. The study presents a method for applying equivalent horizontal cyclic loading in the centrifuge model tests. Technical details are described, including the preparation process of the layered soil, the installation method of three-caisson jacket foundation using continuous negative pressure penetration, and other aspects. The tests ultimately yield satisfactory results and fulfill the experimental objectives. This paper systematically describes the centrifuge model test design for OWT structures in complex site conditions, which can provide technical insights and methodological references for similar tests in the future.