Innovative Rocking-Based Design Optimization for Onshore Wind Turbine Foundations under Multihazard Loading

This project proposes a transformative approach to the design of onshore wind turbine foundations by introducing and optimizing rocking-based solutions under multihazard loading conditions. Traditional design methods assume rigid foundation behavior and enforce a no-gapping criterion, often leading to over-conservative or suboptimal designs that fail to account for nonlinear soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects, especially under extreme wind and seismic events. As turbine sizes grow and climate-induced hazards become more frequent, current deterministic approaches fall short in ensuring resilience, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.The project advances the state-of-the-art by developing high-fidelity finite element (FE) models that incorporate nonlinear SSI, contact mechanics, and controlled rocking at the foundation and tower interfaces. These models will be validated using real-world failure cases and experimental tests on scaled prototypes. Novel semi-rigid and energy-dissipating connection strategies will be explored to enable controlled deformation and reduce damaging forces during dynamic events.In parallel, a comprehensive reliability-based multihazard risk framework will be established, leveraging probabilistic methods such as Monte Carlo simulations and FORM/SORM techniques to quantify performance under stochastic loading. This will enable the generation of fragility curves and optimized foundation configurations tailored to site-specific hazard profiles and soil conditions.By integrating computational mechanics, geotechnical engineering, structural dynamics, and probabilistic risk analysis, the project will deliver design guidelines and decision-support tools for resilient wind turbine foundation systems. The outcomes aim to inform future standards and support the transition to more robust and adaptive renewable energy infrastructure.