Interface behavior of grouted connection on monopile wind turbine offshore structure

The interface behavior of a concrete grouted connection is studied in a monopile wind turbine offshore structure. The grouted connection between transition piece and monopile is fixed by filling it with grout materials made of high-strength concrete. We observe a nonlinear equilibrium path from the grouted connection in experiments. For comparison with the experimental results, nonlinear finite element analysis of the grouted connection is performed, taking the effects of both material and geometrical nonlinearities into consideration. A finite element model of the grouted connection between the steel and concrete materials is realistically simulated using an interface element. The finite element results compares well with the experimental results. Thus, the finite element analysis showed that the numerical model based on the interface element is a good method for investigating the behavior of grouted connections of monopile offshore structures.