Results of Initial Large-scale Model Tests to Validate Monitoring Systems for Grouted Connections of Offshore Monopiles

Validated offshore applicable approaches in structural health monitoring can reduce the maintenance costs of offshore wind farms. To evaluate such monitoring systems for grouted connections, large-scale model tests were carried out at the Test Center Support Structures in Hannover. The results were used to identify the process of damage at an early stage. For this purpose, a support structure model with a grouted connection was designed containing fiber Bragg grating sensors placed at certain positions of the grout layer. In this contribution, the test strategy and its setup are presented. Finally, the suitability of the sensors is shown by means of first experimental results.