• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.63-73
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• 2010

Monopiles, used as one foundation option for offshore wind turbines, are usually subjected to great cyclic lateral loads due to wind and wave. In this study, model pile load tests were performed using calibration chamber and three model piles with different pile lengths in order to investigate the behavior of laterally cyclic loaded piles driven into sand. Model test results show that the first loading cycle generates a bigger displacement than the following ones, and the permanent displacement of piles by one loading cycle decreases with increasing the number of cycles. 1-way cyclic loading causes the permanent displacement in the same direction as cyclic loading, whereas 2-way cyclic loading causes the permanent displacement in the reverse direction of initial loading. It is also observed that the permanent displacement of piles due to cyclic lateral loads increases with decreasing relative density of soil and with increasing the magnitude of cyclic loads. However, it is insensitive to the earth pressure ratio of soil and embedded pile length. In addition, based on the model pile load test results, equations for estimation of the permanent lateral displacement and rotation angle of piles due to 1-way cyclic lateral loads are proposed.