Investigation of degradation processes in large-scale experimental tests by structural health monitoring techniques and numerical simulations

Physical experiments on large-scale models are an appropriate and in many cases indispensable approach for gaining a profound understanding of the physically nonlinear behavior of foundations applied in offshore wind farms. In this contribution, the test facility and an experimental test set-up aiming at optimizing the reliability of structural health monitoring techniques are presented. The testing procedure and the model set-up have been developed by means of flexible computer aided design and numerical simulation approach developed within the joint project GIGAWIND life (BMWi, FKZ 0325575C). This contribution emphasizes the strategy and the numerical framework to ensure reasonable model set-ups. This shall fulfil demands in designing experimental tests and validating future numerical material models giving a broader insight into foundations’ behavior offshore.