Field Trip 3

Offshore support structures, including their foundations, account for approximately one-third of a wind farm’s total capital expenditure (CAPEX). Large-scale experiments are essential for optimizing design approaches and mitigating project risks, as they provide critical data for the validation of engineering models and project planning.
At the Test Center for Support Structures Hannover (TTH), geotechnical and structural steel tests can be conducted at near-full scale under controlled laboratory conditions, utilizing highly sophisticated measurement equipment. Furthermore, the Large Wave Flume+ (measuring 300 m in length, 5 m in width, and 7 m in depth) enables detailed investigations of hydrodynamic loads and soil mobilization effects (e.g., scour formation) by applying both waves and superimposed currents.

Excursion Site:
TTH Testzentrum Tragstrukturen Hannover (test center support structures Hannover) and Large Wave Flume+

On-site Presentation by:
– Dr. Alexander Schenk, head of group Support Structures, Fraunhofer IWES and
– Dr.-Ing. Stefan Schimmels, operations manager of the large wave flume+ (GWK+)

Topics include:
Benefits of large scale testing and validation of offshore support structures and foundation systems