What are Soil-Structure Interactions?
Soil-Structure Interactions, or SSIs, are the interactions between soils and a structure over time. Often, as is the case with offshore wind turbines (OWTs), structures are subject to various forces over time which affect their stability in soil. More specifically, OWTs are subject to millions of wind and wave forces over their lifespan, which impact their security in the surrounding soil.
Why study SSIs?
The United States is currently going through an energy revolution as the country transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energies. Wind energy has potential to produce massive and inexpensive energy supplies for different regions yet most wind turbines are designed to only operate for 20-25 years. By increasing the durability for these turbines, we plan to increase their lifespan, allowing humans to harness more energy out of every turbine produced.