Seismic responses analysis of monopile offshore wind turbines in clays considering the long-term cyclic degradation effect

In marine environment, the monopile offshore wind turbines (MOWTs) are subjected to long-term horizontal cyclic loads caused by wind, waves and currents, which will lead to the stiffness degradation and plastic cumulative deformation of clays. The decrease of clays bearing capacity caused by long-term cyclic degradation effect is a threat to the safe use of MOWTs in earthquake-prone countries (such as some countries in the circum-Pacific seismic belt). A three-dimensional finite element model is established to research the seismic response analysis of MOWT in clays considering the long-term cyclic degradation effect. The cumulative deformation of pile-soil system after long-term cycle are obtained by adopting the stiffness degradation of clays through the USDFLD subroutine. On this basis, the dynamic response analysis of MOWT system under the combined action of seismic and environmental loads is carried out. The influence of long-term horizontal cyclic load number, long-term horizontal cyclic load amplitude, seismic intensity, soil strength, environmental loads and cyclic degradation parameter on the dynamic response of MOWT is analyzed. In the seismic design of MOWTs, the effects of long-term degradation and random wind, waves and other environmental loads should be considered. •Long-term cyclic degradation before earthquake is simulated by employing the stiffness degradation model.•Random wind, wave and other environmental loads are considered in the earthquake process.•Seismic response of MOWT in clays after the long-term cyclic degradation effect is simulated.