Small-Scale Testing of Cyclic Laterally Loaded Monopiles in Dense Saturated Sand

Monopiles are currently the most common foundations for offshore wind turbines, which are subjected to millions of cyclic loads that are still not well interpreted in the design guidelines. The accumulated rotation of the turbine and the change of foundation stiffness due to the long-term cyclic loading are issues that should be investigated. In the present work, a small-scale test campaign of a stiff pile was performed in order to validate methodologies proposed by recent studies. Cyclic loading was not found to degrade the ultimate static resistance of the pile, which contrasts with current design guidelines.