Seismic risk analysis of wind turbine support structures - Seismic Risk Analysis and Management of Civil Infrastructure Systems - page 721

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26.2 Finite element model of a sample wind turbine support structure
in ABAQUS.

Figure 26.2 shows the detailed 3D nonlinear fi nite element model of a
sample wind turbine support structure created in ABAQUS. Considering
the symmetry of the super-structure and foundation, only half of the support
structure is modeled. The tubular steel tower, marine segment and pile
foundation are modeled using linear elastic 3D shell elements. Foundation
nonlinearities are considered explicitly in defi ning soil behavior and soil-
pile interactions. The Mohr-Coulomb plasticity model is used to defi ne the
nonlinear behavior of the soil.
The nonlinear behavior of the soil-pile contact is modeled using 'contact
pair' in ABAQUS. Tangential movement between the two parts, pile and
surrounding soil, is allowed with a friction coeffi cient ranging from 0.2 to
0.3. In the radial direction, a 'no separation' contact behavior is assumed.
The pile outer surface is chosen as the 'master surface' and the surface of