Response of Intermediate Foundations for Onshore Wind Energy Under Variable Ground Conditions-Video

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Video Summary

The presentation examines tensionless pier foundations as a more material- and cost-efficient alternative to conventional spread foundations for larger onshore wind turbines. Using 3D finite-element modeling, the researcher analyzed a roughly 2 MW turbine foundation across 18 soil profiles, with either medium-dense sand or medium-stiff clay at the surface. The drained analyses applied prestress and turbine loads, then tracked foundation displacement and rotation under extreme loading.<br /><br />Results showed that foundation behavior depends on complex soil–structure interactions: some profiles produced more rigid-body rotation, while others showed greater bending and foundation ovalization. Similar soil profiles did not always behave alike, highlighting the need for sensitivity analyses when selecting conservative design profiles. The study notes limitations, including the absence of groundwater, drained-only conditions, and a restricted range of soil profiles. Future work will examine other foundation types, undrained and loading-rate effects, broader ground conditions, and cyclic loading—an important issue for turbines exposed to millions or billions of load cycles.

Keywords

tensionless pier foundations

wind turbine foundations

finite-element modeling

soil-structure interaction

foundation rotation