Static and Cyclic Response of Novel Gravity Base Foundations for Offshore and Onshore Wind Turbines

Static and Cyclic Response of Novel Gravity Base Foundations for Offshore and Onshore Wind Turbines | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Static and Cyclic Response of Novel Gravity Base Foundations for Offshore and Onshore Wind Turbines Lakshmi V, Raju K V S B, Virancha M This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9202379/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The increasing need for renewable energy has resulted in the swift proliferation of wind power, both onshore and offshore. In order for the adequate development of off shore wind industry, it is necessary to resolve some uncertainties with regards to foundation employed for these structures. With wind turbines becoming larger and more powerful, the need for strong, stable, and efficient foundation systems is more critical than ever. Till recently monopoles are widely used in case of offshore wind structures across the world but due to surge in capacity of offshore wind production across the world, there needs an efficient and alternate foundation systems. The alternative foundations such as gravity based foundations (GBF) basically resists large compressive loads apart from cyclic loads subjected due to wind and wave actions. These foundations are placed at shallow depth having sound bearing stratum and having larger width of foundations. The present study focuses on the static compressive performance of newly designed, prefabricated GBF models with and without fins or ribs to enhance the load bearing capacity. An attempt is also made to vary the rib shape, number, and thickness, to enhance load bearing capacity and efficient material distribution. A series of laboratory tests were performed on model gravity based foundations embedded in dry sand. The findings indicate that the inclusion of ribs with enhanced thickness markedly enhances the ultimate bearing capacity and stiffness of GBFs. Additionally, the study further investigates the influence of rib thickness on settlement control and elastic rebound under cyclic loading. Key parameters such as coefficient of elastic uniform compression (Cu) and modulus of elasticity were evaluated to understand the soil structure interaction more effectively. The experimental findings support the use of ribbed GBFs in both onshore and offshore wind farms, offering a practical solution for foundation-related challenges. This research bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and practical applications, contributing valuable insights toward the future development of cost-effective and high performing wind turbine foundation systems. Prefabricated GBF (Gravity base foundation) cyclic response Rib thickness Number of ribs Rib configuration Elastic modulus of soil Dynamic properties of soil Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 11 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 06 Apr, 2026 Editor invited by journal 06 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 31 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 31 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 23 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9202379","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":619663076,"identity":"ee4f5181-71d9-4102-b29f-2f7d65503703","order_by":0,"name":"Lakshmi V","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA2klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACPgY2BmYGBgkGBvYGmBhjA271QMAG18JzgDQtQCCRQKTD2NiPJX8uzLFgMLj5xkziRwWDPH8Dc9sDvFp40o5Jz9wmwWBwO8dMsucMg+GMA4ztBvgdlt7GzAvUIjk7x9iYsY2BcQMDY5sEXi38z5s/g7XMPAPU8o/BnrAWibQD0iAt/BI8ho+BYZVIhJZnaSAtPPw8aYUPe45JJM84TEALP3+aMdBhdXJs7Ic3HPhRY2Pb397+DK8WGOCB0kDFzMSoHwWjYBSMglGAFwAAiIs49rEVHqIAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"UVCE","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lakshmi","middleName":"","lastName":"V","suffix":""},{"id":619663077,"identity":"bc13674c-c6dd-4f40-a29c-84af6d7ec715","order_by":1,"name":"Raju K V S B","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UVCE","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Raju","middleName":"K V S","lastName":"B","suffix":""},{"id":619663078,"identity":"ebb7190f-80dd-4d72-8098-104bc670b62b","order_by":2,"name":"Virancha M","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UVCE","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Virancha","middleName":"","lastName":"M","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-23 15:23:44","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9202379/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9202379/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106959041,"identity":"da012ebf-8c15-4c56-b4ed-96b2995710f8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-15 08:44:16","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":643201,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"STATICANDCYCLICRESPONSEOFNOVELGRAVITYBASEFOUNDATIONSFOROFFSHOREANDONSHOREWINDTURBINES.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9202379/v1_covered_04ed2e3c-3f5e-4fd2-b17e-91c531b044d0.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eStatic and Cyclic Response of Novel Gravity Base Foundations for Offshore and Onshore Wind Turbines\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-civil-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Civil Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/44290)","snPcode":"44290","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44290","title":"Discover Civil Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Prefabricated GBF (Gravity base foundation), cyclic response, Rib thickness, Number of ribs, Rib configuration, Elastic modulus of soil, Dynamic properties of soil","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9202379/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9202379/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe increasing need for renewable energy has resulted in the swift proliferation of wind power, both onshore and offshore. In order for the adequate development of off shore wind industry, it is necessary to resolve some uncertainties with regards to foundation employed for these structures. With wind turbines becoming larger and more powerful, the need for strong, stable, and efficient foundation systems is more critical than ever. Till recently monopoles are widely used in case of offshore wind structures across the world but due to surge in capacity of offshore wind production across the world, there needs an efficient and alternate foundation systems. The alternative foundations such as gravity based foundations (GBF) basically resists large compressive loads apart from cyclic loads subjected due to wind and wave actions. These foundations are placed at shallow depth having sound bearing stratum and having larger width of foundations. 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The experimental findings support the use of ribbed GBFs in both onshore and offshore wind farms, offering a practical solution for foundation-related challenges. 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