Preliminary Study of the SHCC Sandwich Structure Application for Offshore Wind Turbine Towers

In the global energy landscape, offshore wind energy is multiplying due to the search for more outstanding electricity production, which provides economic development without harming the environment. There is a tendency to install offshore wind turbines (OWT) in regions farther from the coast. Consequently, the turbine installation of greater power and a structure that can withstand the installed turbine weight and the most severe environmental loads is necessary. The increase in the tower’s strength has considered different geometries and materials. However, the increment of the dimensions presents challenges and limitations during the manufacture, installation, and transportation. In this study, a preliminary analysis will be carried out proposing the use of the sandwich pipe concept with SHCC (Strain Hardening Cementitious Composite) in the annular for tower structures of the OWT and comparing the performance with a conventional steel tower. SHCC sandwich structure consists of two concentric steel pipes and an annular with a cementitious composite using polymeric fibers. This type of structure has been proposed for subsea pipeline projects to resist high hydrostatic pressure and bending. Numerical models of the towers will be developed through the finite element program Abaqus, where the ultimate strength of the towers subjected to compression and bending loads will be determined, considering the geometric and material nonlinearities. Applying the sandwich structure for the tower presents a good alternative for use in large OWT.