Entwurfsaspekte bei Gründungen für Offshore-Windenergieanlagen

Design Aspects for Foundations of Offshore Wind Turbines

The design of foundations for offshore wind turbines has to be carried out against the backdrop of complex requirements resulting from the dynamic and cyclic loading of the structure and the subsoil caused by wind and waves, an expensive and weather-dependent offshore logistics for transport and installation, the desired minimisation of marine environmental effects and not least the specific features of authorizing procedures for offshore constructions. Moreover the structures have to preserve their functionality under challenging environmental conditions on the high seas for the entire lifetime of 20 or 25 years without the need of extensive inspection and maintenance works.
This publication shows, in the view of designing engineers, which variety of aspects have to be taken into account during the design of foundations for offshore wind turbines despite the high demands on the economic efficiency of the foundation. Based on two examples, a gravity base foundation and a jacket foundation, the tasks linked to the foundation, which have to be solved during the several phases of a wind park project will be elucidated.