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SUMMARY REPORT FROM THE JIP ON THE CAPACITY OF GROUTED CONNECTIONS IN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE STRUCTURES
Table of Content
1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4.1 1.4.2 1.4.3
Page
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 Background 1 Scope 2 Grouted connection concepts 2 Definitions and general safety format 2 Definition of symbols 2 Terms used to document capacity 4 The partial safety factor format 4
2 CYLINDRICAL CONNECTIONS WITHOUT SHEAR KEYS ................................ 6 2.1 Axial capacity 6 2.1.1 Axial capacity due to steel surface irregularity 6 2.1.2 Prestressed flexible supports for the transfer of axial loads 11 2.2 Bending moment capacity 11 2.2.1 Global structural behaviour of grouted connections 11 2.2.2 Structural behaviour at the ends of grouted connections 16 2.2.2.1 Discontinuity in geometry and force flow 16 2.2.2.2 Discontinuity due to axial load in the transition piece 16 2.2.2.3 Discontinuity due to pressure loads acting between the pile and transition piece 17 2.2.3 Assessment of grout capacity and design to avoid progressive grout crushing 18 2.2.4 Assessment of local pressure on ends of grouted sections 20 2.2.5 On improvement of local structural behaviour 21 2.2.5.1 Reduction of contact pressure by increasing the size of the connection 21 2.2.5.2 Local softening of structure 21 2.3 Torsion capacity 21 2.4 Friction coefficient 22 2.5 Abrasive wear of contact surfaces 22 3 3.1 3.2 4 4.1 4.1.1 4.1.2 4.2 4.2.1 CAPACITY OF GROUTED CONNECTIONS WITH SHEAR KEYS ................... 23 Capacity for static loading 23 Capacity for dynamic loading 23 CAPACITY OF CONICAL SHAPED GROUTED CONNECTIONS ..................... 24 Axial capacity 24 Background 24 Equation for calculating the axial capacity 24 Moment capacity 27 Global behaviour 27 Page i
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SummaryReportCapacityGroutedConnections12May2011.doc
DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT 4.2.2 4.3 4.4 5 5.1 5.2 5.3 6 6.1 6.2 6.3 7 8 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 9 Local capacity at the ends of a grouted connection Torsion capacity Abrasive wear of contact surfaces 27 28 29
FATIGUE CAPACITY OF GROUTED CONNECTIONS IN AIR AND SEAWATER ENVIRONMENTS ............................................................................. 30 Design S-N curves for grout material 30 Watertightness 30 Grout seals 31 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSES OF GROUTED CONNECTIONS ...................... 32 Requirements as to analysis programs 32 Finite element modelling 32 Acceptance criteria 32 REQUIREMENT AS TO THE IN-SERVICE INSPECTION AND MONITORING OF NEW DESIGNS........................................................................ 33 MITIGATION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES WITH LOW AXIAL CAPACITY................................................................................................................ 34 Inspection for settlement 34 Inspection to reveal cracking of the grout 34 Inspection to reveal potential fatigue cracks 34 Mitigation with respect to axial force 35 Mitigation with respect to fatigue cracks 35 REFERENCES........................................................................................................... 36
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SummaryReportCapacityGroutedConnections12May2011.doc
Acknowledgement
This report is developed within the Joint Industry Project on the Capacity of Grouted Connections in Wind Turbine Structures. Acknowledgement is made to the JIP Partners for their support and contribution to this work: Ballast Nedam Engineering BASF Construction Chemicals Denmark A/S Centrica Renewable Energy Limited Densit A/S DNV DONG Energy GustoMSC MT Hjgaard a/s Per Aarsleff A/S RWE Innogy GmbH Statoil ASA /Statkraft AS Vattenfall Vindkraft A/S
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SummaryReportCapacityGroutedConnections12May2011.doc
Brackets for temporary support of tower before grouting Gap after installation of tower and grouting between pile and transition piece Tower
Transition piece
MWL
Mud level
Monopile Monopile
1.2 Scope
The scope of this work is to present a technical basis for achieving the objective of the joint industry project as outlined in section 1.1. This work includes guidance on: The structural capacity of cylindrical shaped grouted connections without shear keys subjected to axial load. The structural capacity of cylindrical shaped grouted connections without shear keys subjected to bending moment. How to design the top and bottom ends of the grouted connections to prevent the cracking/crushing of the grout. The axial resistance as a function of the amount of sliding between the grout and steel during dynamic loading, the wear of sliding surfaces and the friction coefficient of sliding surfaces. The design of pre-stressed flexible supports for the transfer of axial loads. The fatigue capacity of grouted connections in air and seawater environments. The capacity of conical shaped grouted connections. An assessment of the safety factors to be applied to large diameter grouted connections.
These items are presented in more detail in the following sections of this report. The capacity of grouted connections with shear keys has only been briefly assessed in this study. It is proposed that this should be further investigated in Phase II of the Joint Industry Project on the capacity of grouted connections.
DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT p Rp RTP = pressure in radial direction between grout and steel = pile outer radius = outer radius of transition piece (TP) (The outer tubular is denoted as sleeve in the grouted connection used in jacket structures; and therefore the index s is sometimes used for this parameter in literature) = wall thickness of transition piece (TP) = wall thickness of pile = thickness of grout = modulus of elasticity for steel = modulus of elasticity for grout = length of grouted section = elastic length of the monopile: lep =
tTP tp tg E Eg Lg lep
Rp t p
4
3 ( 1 2 )
leTP
RTP tTP
4
3 ( 1 2 )
C L
tp
tg Lg
Rp RTP
tTP
Figure 2 Definition of symbols used for cylindrical shaped grouted connections Page -3
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DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT The design load effect (Sd) must be lower than the design capacity (Rd) for each failure mode:
S d Rd
(1)
The design load effect is obtained as described in DNV-OS-J101 (2007). The design capacity is obtained by dividing the characteristic capacity (Rk) by a specified material factor m:
Rd = Rk
(2)
m = material factor m = 1.5 for the ultimate limit state, where the characteristic capacity is determined from accurate finite element analysis of the grouted connection that has been calibrated/verified against test data. m = 2.6 for the ultimate capacity derived from test data, such as the capacity of grouted connections with shear keys. m = 1.0 for the ultimate limit state of torsion capacity, where a characteristic friction coefficient = 0.40 is used in the design. Reference is made to DNV-OS-C502 for safety factors for the fatigue limit state of the grout material. It is proposed to restrict the nominal contact pressure to 1.2 MPa to limit the consequence of the abrasive wear failure mode. A load factor equal to 1.0 can be used to assess the abrasive wear. Otherwise, the requirements as to workmanship and quality assurance described in DNV-OSJ101 (2007) apply.
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DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT fabrication standards in order to document a reliable capacity. However, such requirements have so far not been specified. Although the thickness of the monopile and transition piece is significant, the diameter to thickness ratios of the monopile structures are relatively large and the structures may be defined as shell structures or thin-walled structures. This means that the radial stiffness or flexibility of the connections becomes an important design parameter. The literature indicates that the design for the moment loading could be considered independently from that for the axial load. Quoting ISO 19902 from 2007: "The representative interface strength for axial force is thus not reduced by coexisting bending and shear". This statement was based on test data presented in OTC paper no 5485 in 1986. However, a bending moment is considered to lead to the ovalisation of the connection. This is illustrated in Figure 6, where the moment is illustrated by an axial force couple. The axial compression force leads to a radial displacement above the grouted connection due to Poissons ratio of the steel. This leads to tensile stresses between the steel and grout which may lead to a loss of bond capacity. As the bond capacity is lost, the displacement field moves into the connection, with further loss of bond capacity as illustrated in Figure 7. As the direction of the bending moment changes with time, the initial bond around the circumference may thus be lost in the case of large bending moments. The flexibility of the connections implies deformation during dynamic moment loading, leading to sliding between the steel and grout surfaces as indicated in Figure 8. This sliding cannot be resisted by a high friction coefficient or a high initial bonding strength between the steel and grout due to radial deformations required to create reaction pressure in the grout that will resist the bending moment. Even if each relative sliding length during a load cycle between grout and steel is only a few millimetres or a fraction of a millimetre, the accumulated relative sliding length may be large after some years of service life due the significant number of dynamic load cycles. This depends on the size of the alternating dynamic bending moment on the connection. The accumulated sliding between the steel and grout surface is considered to lead to wear on the grout surface and a reduced interface capacity with time. The accumulated sliding length for a real structure is significantly larger than that which can be tested in a laboratory on scaled specimens. Laboratory tests show that the long-term resistance against sliding might be so much reduced during service life that a reliable lower bound on resistance to be used in the design can hardly be provided. This means that design solutions should be sought that can be documented to show sufficient capacity with a resistance between the steel and grout surface equal to zero for cylindrical shaped grouted connections. Due to the low long-term axial capacity of cylindrical shaped grouted connections, it is believed that the design of such connections in monopiles can no longer be recommended. The reason for this is the: Reduced interface shear capacity with the increasing diameter of the connections in combination with a low long-term effective resistance between the steel and grout surfaces for loads that exceed the bond/sliding friction capacity. Lack of requirements as to minimum tolerances. Page -7
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Post bond capacity for significant tolerances Axial force/ capacity Bond capacity for significant tolerances Bond capacity for small tolerances Post bond capacity for small tolerances
Figure 4 Illustration of axial capacity as a function of surface irregularities (surface roughness + tolerances)
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Figure 5 Graph illustrating the interface shear strength as a function of pile radius after bonds are broken
M
N compressive
1500 1000
N Transition piece
N tensile
1000 1500
500
-500
Pile
0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
Figure 6 Radial displacement in a large diameter connection subjected to an axial load (from bending moment)
0.1
-500
500
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M
N compressive
1500 1000
N tensile
1000 1500
500
Pile
0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
Figure 7 Radial displacement as contact is being lost in a large diameter connection subjected to axial load (from bending moment)
Figure 8 Illustration of deformation and relative displacement between the transition piece and monopile due to moment loading Page -10
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-500
500
Spring support
The spring supports are resting on the top of the pile. Thus the vertical load is transferred from the transition piece to the top of the pile.
Figure 9 A principle sketch of flexible supports for the transfer of axial load
DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT There will also be vertical friction forces due to the contact pressure that contributes to the moment capacity of the grouted connection (red arrows in Figure 10). The axial resistance to sliding in cylindrical shaped grouted connections is significantly reduced as a function of the number of dynamic load cycles causing sliding in the connection. However, it is found that a characteristic friction coefficient value of 0.40 between steel and grout can also be applied to grouted connections subjected to long-term sliding. As long as there is friction force between the steel and grout due to contact pressure, there will also be vertical friction forces due to the surface irregularity (or fabrication tolerances) in the connection. (Black arrows in Figure 10.) Reference is made to equation (7). This effect is not recommended used in the design; however, it must be kept in mind when assessing laboratory test data. If shear keys are installed around the circumference of the monopile and the transition piece, these shear keys will also transfer vertical shear forces, contributing to the grouted connections moment capacity. The contact pressure shown in Figure 10 will act around most parts of the circumference. This contact pressure will provide some horizontal shear resistance due to the friction between the steel and grout. These horizontal shear forces shown in Figure 10 will also contribute to the grouted connections moment capacity (green arrows in Figure 10). The moment action will lead to a tension load in the circumferential direction of the grouted connection that may exceed the grouts tension capacity. This will lead to the grout cracking as indicated in Figure 11. Due to the relatively high local slenderness (diameter to thickness ratio) of the pile and transition piece, ovalisation of the cylinders will also occur and a gap will open up between the grout and the steel of these elements in the case of large moments. This will lead to a relative sliding between the steel and grout. One can thus assume that the main purpose of the grout is to transfer pressure from the transition piece to the pile. The actual behaviour of the grouted connections subjected to a bending moment may be simulated by a finite element analysis that accounts for compressive contact between the steel and grout but without tensile contact stresses and with a proper friction coefficient where contact pressure is present. An analytical expression of the relationship between the contact pressure and bending moment acting on the grouted connection can be derived based on certain assumptions concerning pressure distribution. A constant pressure is assumed around half the circumference from b to d in Figure 12. Then a linear pressure distribution is assumed from d to a and from b to a. (The pressure distribution is considered to depend on the connections diameter thickness ratio. For a low diameter-to-thickness ratio, a larger pressure is expected at position c than at other positions around the circumference).
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HF
HF
Lg
Vertical shear force due to contact pressure and friction
p M
Contact pressure
D
Figure 10 Illustration of reaction forces in the grouted connection due to moment loading
Sliding of grout against steel
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h d
x x x a
v x
x x
Figure 12 Illustration of pressure distribution around the circumference The moment action due to maximum contact pressure (blue arrows in Figure 10) is derived by integrating the contact pressure around half the circumference from b to d in Figure 12 as
Mp = p
R p L2 g 3
(3)
where p = maximum nominal pressure at the top and bottom of the grouted section as shown in Figure 10. Lg = height of grouted section. The moment due to the horizontal friction force (green arrows in figures) is derived by integrating the contact pressure within the stipulated red line from a to c in Figure 12 with pressure 0.75p at position d as
M h = p
R p L2 g
(4)
The moment capacity due to the vertical friction force (red arrows in Figure 10 and Figure 12) is derived by integrating the contact pressure outside the stipulated line from a to c in Figure 12 with pressure 0.5p at position d as Page -14
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(5)
(The selection of pressure at position d to derive equations (4) and (5) is based on a comparison with the results of a finite element analysis). The total moment is derived as
M tot = M p + M h + M v
(6)
In addition to these moments, there is a friction moment due to surface irregularity as explained above. This moment can be expressed as
2 M Surface irregularity = 4 R p kf Lg
(7)
Reference is made to ref. /4/ for derivation. The interface shear strength due to surface irregularity is significantly greater for small diameter connections than for large diameter connections as shown in Figure 5. This means that the friction moment due to surface irregularity becomes a significant parameter in planning testing and assessing test data from scaled test specimens. However, for large diameter connections, the friction moment is negligible compared with the other contributing moment capacities. The friction resistance moment will also be reduced with time when sliding occurs between the steel and grout. It should also be noted that the friction moment due to surface irregularity is not included in the finite element analysis normally performed by the industry as the surface irregularity is not accounted for in the analysis models. The contribution to the nominal contact pressure from the global shear force at the grouted connection is considered to be small. An estimate of the maximum nominal contact pressure is then derived from equations (3-6) as
p=
3 M tot 2 2 R p Lg ( + 3 ) + 3 R p Lg
(8)
An estimate of the maximum opening between the steel and the grout at the top of the monopile is derived as
H = 3 ( p + TP )
(9)
Here, the compression of the grout is neglected as the contribution from this to the total deformation is small for typical wind turbine connections.
p =
p Rp
(10)
E tp
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TP
p RTP = E tTP
V = H
2Rp
Lg
(11)
A significant sliding between the steel and concrete is expected to occur in the case of large moments even with a high friction coefficient. Thus, it is not realistic to try to improve the structural behaviour of the large diameter connections subjected to dynamic bending moments by increasing the roughness of the steel surfaces.
Axial load from self weight and from the bending moment resulting in axial stress in the transition piece (considering the region at the top of the grout), and the pile (considering the region at the bottom of the grout). Pressure loading due to moment action and due to pressure loading from settlements in cone connections.
The effect of these discontinuities on local structural behaviour is explained in detail in the following sections. In finite element analyses of large diameter grouted connections, the regions at the grout ends often show high stressed areas. These areas are at a corner where a singular stress field can be expected based on a linear finite element analysis. Here the calculated stress is a function of element size. However, high stresses in the grout are also expected at these areas in grouted connections for large bending moments as explained in the following. 2.2.2.2 Discontinuity due to axial load in the transition piece An example of the structural behaviour of a large diameter connection is considered as follows: Outer diameter of transition piece: 5400 mm. Thickness of transition piece: 70 mm. Thickness of pile: 80 mm. The axial stress in the transition piece due to the global bending moment equals 143 MPa. The calculated radial displacement is proportional to the axial stress; thus, the displacement for a lower axial stress can easily be deduced by a linear scaling. Analysis results based on shell theory are shown in Figure 6. The analysis is performed for one compressive loading and one tensile loading. For tensile loading there will be full contact (horizontal pressure stress in the grout) at the top of the grout (as shown in the right part of Page -16
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DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT Figure 6). For the compressive loading, there will be a split force in the transition piece that attempts to separate the steel from the grout. If an opening between the steel and grout occurs, the supporting action from the pile is lost and the displacement field is shifted downwards as the opening is extended downwards as indicated in Figure 7. For a global moment loading, one will have tensile stresses in the transition piece on one side and compressive stresses at the opposite side as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7. At the neutral axis for moment loading, there is approximately zero stress in the transition piece. Thus the radial displacement will vary around the circumference of a connection subjected to a bending moment. This leads to ovalisation of the connection.
2.2.2.3 Discontinuity due to pressure loads acting between the pile and transition piece At the end of the grouted connection, there is a discontinuity in geometry and in transverse loading (contact pressure between the steel and grout). Even with a constant thickness over the length of the transition piece, there is a discontinuity in geometry at the top of the pile when one considers the pile and the transition piece to behave together as a composite structure with grout in between. At the top of the pile there is also a discontinuity in the horizontal pressure acting on the transition piece as there is no horizontal pressure acting on the transition piece above the top of the pile. A sketch of a grouted connection illustrating the deflection gradient in the transition piece for a uniform loading from the grout is shown in Figure 13 for a high nominal pressure p = 3.0 MPa (geometry as in section 2.2.2.2). From the deflection curve, it is understood that there will be a significant local pressure at the top of the grouted connections. Reference is made to section 1.4.1 for a definition of leTP and lep. A similar assessment may be made for the bottom of the grouted connection.
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500
1000
Transition piece
-500
Pile
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
Radial displacement (mm) of transition piece subjected to a uniform compression field along the grouted connection
0.0
Figure 13 Sketch of a grouted connection illustrating the deflection gradient in the transition piece for a uniform loading from the grout
2.2.3 Assessment of grout capacity and design to avoid progressive grout crushing
Locally, at grout ends, there may be a significant pressure load p between the steel and grout as indicated in Figure 13. Depending on the friction coefficient, there may also be some shear stress acting on the grout connection during dynamic loading, with sliding occurring between the steel and grout. The shear stress may act both upwards and downwards during a loading cycle, which in principle may lead to cracking in different directions as indicated in Figure 14. The maximum and minimum principal stresses in the grout are derived as
pLocal 1 + 1 + 4 2 2 p II = Local 1 1 + 4 2 2
I =
The directions of principal stresses depend on the actual friction coefficient and on the sign on shear stress. Therefore, cracking due to tensile loads normal to minimum principal stress direction will also depend on the friction coefficient. It is important to account for the stress increase due to the discontinuity at the ends of the grout as illustrated in section 2.2.2. This can be presented in terms of stress increase by a stress concentration factor such that the local contact pressure becomes related to the nominal contact pressure as
leTp
( (
) )
(12)
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DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT pLocal = SCF p Nominal An analytical analysis of the stress concentration factor at the top of the pile is given as
RTP SCF = 1 + 0.025 t TP 50 mm tTp 100 mm
3/ 2
(13)
(14)
An analytical analysis of the stress concentration factor at the lower end of the transition piece is given as
Rp SCF = 1 + 0.025 t p
3/ 2
(15)
The nominal contact pressures are assumed to be derived from the procedure in section 2.2.1 with a friction coefficient of = 0.40. This friction coefficient is assumed for the global behaviour of the connection. A friction coefficient = 0.40 is considered to be a lower value (or characteristic value) to be used for a design where a low value provides a low capacity (or here a high pressure load which is used to calculate the load effect). Due to scatter in tested friction coefficients, it is also likely that the friction coefficient may be much larger. It may also vary in a connection depending on local surface irregularities. Therefore the use of a larger friction coefficient is recommended in equation (12) depending on the consequences of grout cracking. Based on the combined axial and dynamic bending tests, it is proposed to limit the contact pressure between the steel and grout. A simple design approach is suggested, based on analytical considerations. A more refined design approach based on linear elastic finite element analyses of the grouted connection is recommended for more detailed design analyses. Based on present knowledge, it is proposed to limit the nominal design contact pressure to 1.5 MPa when using a high capacity grout. (A laboratory test showed cracking of the edge with a nominal contact pressure equal to 2.0 MPa.) The nominal design contact pressure is understood to be the pressure derived from an analytical calculation of the pressure excluding the stress increase from end discontinuities (ref. section 2.2.1). If the nominal design contact pressure is derived from finite element analysis, stress increase from end discontinuities should be excluded.
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= pLocal
Alternatively, this local design stress can be derived directly from a linear finite element analysis. A finite element analysis is recommended used to calculate the local pressure to document a final design. The design tensile stress is derived as
d =
pLocal ,d 2
(1 1 + 4 2 ) Local
(17)
where Local is a local friction coefficient representative for the contact area at the edges of the grout connection. A large upper value for the friction coefficient should be used in the design. The value may depend on the consequence of the grout cracking. This should involve an assessment of the long-term capacity of the grout. Local = 0.70 can be considered used to assess the local tensile stress. To calculate the nominal pressure, a friction coefficient of = 0.40 can be used. The design capacity is calculated as
cd = ct / m
where ct = characteristic tensile capacity of the grout (5 percentile value of the test data).
(18)
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DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT m = material factor = 1.5. Then the design criterion reads
d cd
For finite element analysis, see also section 6.
(19)
0.5tTP lep
Pile
leTp 0.5tp tp
Figure 15 Softening of grout ends by end rings with half the thickness of the ending member
DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT The laboratory axial sliding tests showed a rather low resistance after some cycles. Similar behaviour may be expected for alternating long-term dynamic torsional moments. Due to this observation, it may be recommended for structures using cylindrical shaped connections to design mechanical locks to transfer the torsional moment from the transition piece to the pile. Alternatively, inspection of the relative rotation is recommended. Even if the resistance factor is low, the friction coefficient is still considered to be significant such that some torsional moment can be transferred in the connection if there is a contact pressure present, e.g. from an external bending moment. Also, a cone section will provide pressures that will result in a significant torsion capacity, see also section 4.3. If the vertical forces are transferred by spring supports, the resistance against torsion will be less due to lower contact pressure between the steel and grout as explained in ref. /4/. Appropriate capacity against torsion may be achieved by installing supports that can transfer torsional moment but that are flexible in a vertical direction in order not to increase the vertical spring stiffness. The supports need to be fixed to the pile and transition piece.
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3 CAPACITY OF GROUTED CONNECTIONS WITH SHEAR KEYS 3.1 Capacity for static loading
Grouted connections with circumferential shear keys subjected to axial static loading and dynamic loading in one direction (or a high static loading) have been used in a number of offshore platforms without any known negative experience. The capacity of rather large diameter grouted connections with shear keys can be considered documented for static axial loading. Reference is made to design equations in DNV-OS-J101 (2007) and ISO 19902 (2007). It is considered a complex task to separate moment resistance from shear keys from that due to ovalization (contact pressure between steel and grout). An alternative is to assume that both the axial force and the moment have to be resisted by the shear keys. This can be performed by calculating an equivalent load that includes the static axial force and the static moment. This can be performed by increasing the axial load by the following stress increase factor
SIF = 1 +
M
2 P Rp
(20)
Presently, there is no finite element analysis method/programme readily available to the industry that can be used for reliable analysis of the ultimate capacity of these connections.
(21)
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= v tan
The design should allow for a vertical settlement equal to v. The pressure between steel and grout can be derived as
p= E K Rp
(22)
(23)
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Rp R tg E K = + TP + t p tTP E g R p
(24)
C L
Pile
Grout
Sleeve
P cos + P sin = Fg
Where P is the total reaction force to be transferred through the grout. Pressure loading acting on the outside grout area is
(25)
p = P / Acone
(26)
When the pressure is known, the resulting value can be calculated from equation (23), and the resulting settlement can be derived from equation (22). The outer area in Figure 18 of the cone is obtained as
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Acone = 2 Lg R p t + L2 g sin
Where the parameters are defined in Figure 18.
(27)
Fg
Rpt
Lg
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Inside of pile
Figure 19 Loading on cone sections with cylindrical rings at pile and transition piece ends
M t = 2 p Lg ( R + R pt Lg sin +
2 pt
L2g 3
sin 2 )
(28)
where p = contact pressure between steel and grout due to self weight Rpt = radius of connection on top of pile Lg = length of grouted section = cone angle Page -28
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DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT The largest torsion capacity is achieved for the smaller cone angles as this geometry also provides the largest contact pressure from the grout to the steel surface. An additional resistance from the overall bending moment can be considered together with the design torsional moment to assess the capacity. However, this also depends on the correlation between different types of loads. This means that a conical connection can transfer a significant torsional moment due to the contact pressure between the steel and grout combined with a relevant friction coefficient. The consequence of some rotation due to torsion in a conical shaped connection is not considered to be significant and, based on experience from the laboratory torsion test performed in this project, it is likely that some resistance against rotation will be achieved from surface irregularity (most likely ovality tolerances). Thus, for conical connections one may consider using a load and material factor equal to 1.0 when a characteristic friction coefficient = 0.40 is used for the design with respect to torsional moment.
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5 FATIGUE CAPACITY OF GROUTED CONNECTIONS IN AIR AND SEAWATER ENVIRONMENTS 5.1 Design S-N curves for grout material
The fatigue of grouted connections in wind tower structures has not been considered to be a failure mode that has been governing for designs using S-N curves for an air environment. Until now there has not been fatigue test data available for grout in seawater. Tests of grout permeability with respect to water indicate that the grout behaves better than concrete structures with respect to the ingress of water into material without cracks. It is realised that vertical cracking of the grout will occur during ovalisation of the large diameter connections subjected to large moments. An opening between the grout and steel will occur for large bending moments. Thus water will likely enter the grouted connection unless special measures are taken to avoid water ingress. This depends on the quality of the grout seal. The fatigue capacity of concrete in water is reduced when the concrete is subjected to stress ranges in compression. If the stress cycles are going from compression to tension, the capacity is reduced further. It may be difficult to avoid compressive to tensile stresses during a loading cycle in a grouted connection in a monopile subjected to a dynamic bending moment. Therefore, a long-term sealing of the connections should be aimed for in order to achieve a reliable connection during service life. Reference is made to DNV-OS-C502 for S-N curves for the capacity of concrete in air and in seawater. These design curves may be used for fatigue design of grout material until more specific curves for grout material have been derived. Further tests on grout material are recommended. It is recommended to use the safety factor stated in DNV-OS-C502 for the fatigue limit state for the grout material.
5.2 Watertightness
Due to some uncertainty about the long-term fatigue capacity of grout material, it might be recommended to aim for a proper sealing of the grout in connections subjected to large dynamic long-term loading. The pumping of water in and out of cracks and opened gaps in the grouted connection during dynamic cycling should be avoided as this might squeeze out loose grout particles and cracked pieces from the connection. This means that it would be preferred to place the grouted connections in an air environment or alternatively reliable seals to prevent water ingress for proper long-term structural behaviour may be developed.
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Transition piece
Monopile
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8 MITIGATION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES WITH LOW AXIAL CAPACITY 8.1 Inspection for settlement
All wind turbine structures with large diameter grouted connections designed according to the industry design practice until 2009 should be inspected for settlements of the transition piece onto the pile or onto temporary supports. Contact points around the circumference should be noted for further assessment.
w =
P 2a L
(29)
i.e. the engineering shear stress is simply obtained as the force divided by weld throat area. The parallel shear stress in Figure 21 is similarly derived as
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// =
T 2a L
where the notations are illustrated in Figure 21. The calculated combined stress range can be combined with S-N curve W3 in DNV-RP-C203 Fatigue Design of Offshore Steel Structures.
h t
T L a
Throat section
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9 REFERENCES
/1/ /2/ /3/ /4/ /5/ DNV-OS-J101 Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Structures. October 2007. ISO 19902 Fixed Steel Offshore Structures. 2007. Proposal to a Joint Industry Project on Grouted Connections. Capacity of Grouted Connections in Wind Turbine Structures. Dated 11 November 2009. Rev. 02. Lotsberg, I.: Background for Recommendations on Design of Grouted connections in Offshore Wind Turbine Structures. DNV report No. 2010-0650. Rev. 01. July 2010. Hamed, A., Serednicki, A., Lotsberg, I, Fjeldberg, A. and Ulle, H.: Testing of Grouted Connections subjected to Static Axial Load and Dynamic Sliding. DNV Report No 2010-0651. Berg Larsen, M. Finite Element Analysis of a Grouted Conical and a Grouted Cylindrical Connection. DNV Report Copenhagen, dated April 2010. Harwood, R. G, Billington, C. J., Buitrago,. J., Sele, A. and Sharp, J. V.: Grouted Pile to Sleeve connections: Design Provisions for the New ISO Standard for Offshore Structures. OMAE 1996, ASME. Ingebrigtsen, T., Lset, . and Nielsen, Sren, G.: Fatigue Design and Overall Safety of Grouted Pile Sleeve Connections. Paper presented at Offshore Technology Conference, 22, OTC Paper No 6344, Houston, Texas, 7-10 May 1990. Klose, M., Faber, T., Schaumann, P. and Lochte-Holtgreven, S.: Grouted Connections for Offshore Wind Turbines. Proceeding ISOPE 2008. DNV-OS-C502 Offshore Concrete Structures. April 2007. DNV-RP-C203 Fatigue Design of Offshore Steel Structures. April 2010. Lamport, W. B., Jirsa, J.O. and Yura, J. A.: Grouted Pile-to-Sleeve Connection Tests. OTC paper no 5485 from 1986. Norsok N-006 Assessment of Structural Integrity for Existing Offshore Load-bearing Structures. Revision 01, March 2009. Lotsberg, I.: Fatigue Capacity of Load Carrying Fillet Welded Connections subjected to Axial and Shear Loading. Journal of Offshore and Arctic Engineering 2009. Vol. 131, Iss. 4. DNV Report 2010-3620. Testing of Conical Shaped Grouted Connections subjected to Axial Load and Dynamic Bending Moment. January 2010. Skjolde, M.: Factors of Safety for Grouted Connection Phase II the Impact of Cyclic Load on Connections with High h/s Values. DNV Report No. 94-3243. DNV August 1994. OMAE Paper 2011-49169 On the structural capacity of grouted connections in offshore structures. To be presented at OMAE in Rotterdam 19-24 June 2011. Proposal to a Joint Industry Project on Generation of Test Data for Documentation of Page -36
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/6/ /7/
/8/
/15/ /16
/17 /18
DET NORSKE VERITAS Report No: 2010-1053, rev. 05 TECHNICAL REPORT Design on Capacity of Grouted Connections with Shear Keys subjected to Alternating Dynamic Loading. Dated 12 January 2011. /19 DNV Report 2010-3369 Compressive test of grouted tubular connection. Rev 1. Dated 2011-01-28.
Liability DNV does not guarantee the correctness of the information provided in this document. Liability for losses, claims and liabilities related to or arising from the use of information provided in this document suffered by any Party to the relevant JIP Agreement is governed by the JIP Agreement. For any party which is not a Party to the JIP Agreement, DNV does not assume any liability for any losses, claims and liabilities related to or arising from the use of information provided in this document.
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