Optimising design parameters for offshore wind MP-TP wedge connection technology using analytical techniques

The offshore wind industry is a rapidly growing sector and will likely play a significant role in the future of green energy. Monopile support structures are the dominant foundation type in offshore wind turbines. Existing monopile to transition piece technologies have a number of challenges, and a new design, called wedge connection, presents a promising solution. In the present study analytical techniques, supported with finite element modelling, have been used to optimise the wedge connection design. A spring model was created and solved for both the application of the preload and the combination of the preload and the external force. A lower bound on the preload that would ensure the connection does not become loose was found. The self-locking mechanism was shown to be not a required design feature. The optimum number of wedge connections in one offshore wind turbine has been found as a function of the width of the connection and the monopile diameter. It has been shown that laboratory experiments on a single segment of wedge connection are likely to be conservative due to a higher stress concentration factor than in the full structure.