WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition 2019

ePOSTER: Maximize Design Life: Benefits and Drawbacks of Today’s Wind Turbine Foundation Designs

22 May 19
2:00 PM - 2:25 PM

Tracks: Poster Presentations, Wind Turbine Structures, Dynamics, Loads & Control

Speaker(s): David Jolivet, Structural Engineer, Sargent & Lundy

Wind turbine foundations constitute the single most critical structural element in a wind farm’s design. A properly designed foundation provides the appropriate stability and stiffness that ensures the aboveground components achieve their maximum intended design life—which is often expected to be at least 20 years and can even exceed 30. Conversely, an improperly designed foundation can cause premature stability and fatigue problems in both the tower and wind turbine components. This presentation will highlight the various onshore wind turbine foundation designs available today. These designs include commonly used spread footing foundations, monopier systems, and lesser-used rock, and soil anchored foundations. The presentation will also highlight concepts that are being developed such as ribbed precast shallow foundations and ring foundations supporting a modular concrete base for hybrid concrete/steel tower configurations. Pros and cons for these designs will be discussed, including fatigue life, construction cost, long-term suitability for potential repowers, and driving factors behind the choice of one foundation design over another.