Design and verification of the loading system and boundrrrrrrfcxxary conditions for wind turbine foundation model experiment

Abstract Previous studies show that the wind turbine foundation is subjected to the coupling effect of torque-vertical load-horizontal load-bending moment load (i.e., T-V-H-M). In a large-scale model experiment of wind turbine foundation, the existing methods cannot accurately simulate the complex loads, counterweights, or foundation boundary conditions. In this paper, a novel method for simulating the loads and boundary conditions of wind turbine foundation model experiments was introduced, and a series of related confirmatory research was conducted, showing that the proposed multi-point composite loading system can resolve the problem of increasing shear force caused by the conventional single-point bending moment control loading method. Meanwhile, it can satisfy the load matching requirements of T-V-H-M loads under ordinary laboratory conditions. The regional counterweight system provided a simulation method for the weight of the foundation and overburdens soil under the gravity field, which can accurately restore the distribution of the foundation resistance. The stiffness of ground soil had a significant impact on the force characteristics of the foundation structure. It is concluded that the proposed method can achieve an excellent accuracy at a reasonable computational expense.