Monopod bucket foundations under cyclic lateral loading

The monopod bucket foundation has the potential to become a cost-reducing substructure for offshore wind turbines. To avoid problems during the energy converter operation, the long-term effect of cyclic loading must be considered in the design of the foundation. In this paper, a 1-g testing rig is adopted to extend the knowledge of bucket foundations under lateral cyclic loading. The test setup is described, and a comprehensive experimental campaign is presented. The effect of some important system parameters on the long-term plastic rotation is analysed. Key aspects of the cyclic load behaviour of bucket foundations are discussed.