DEVELOPMENTS IN FOUNDATION TECHNOLOGY
INNOVATIVE GRAVITY BASE FOUNDATION THROUGH TEAMWORK
Royal BAM Group and Van Oord Offshore Wind projects have teamed up to design, manufacture and install reinforced concrete gravity base foundations (GBFs) for the offshore wind industry.
EXPERIENCE
The innovative hybrid concept for the GBF has been developed using BAM and Van Oord’s wide experience of designing and constructing immersed tube tunnels and gravity base structures. The basic GBF solution has been specifically designed for deep water applications and has undergone model testing. It is adaptable to suit a range of water depths, wave heights and sea bed conditions.
SELF-BUOYANT
The GBF is designed to be mass produced onshore in a quayside construction yard using BAM’s core skills in reinforced concrete construction. Being self-buoyant, it is then towed out to sea using standard ocean going tugs.
MARINE WORKS
Once in position the GBF is submerged under closely controlled conditions on a pre-prepared sea bed. Rock armour is then placed around the base to afford protection against scour and the structure is ballasted with sand. All marine works are carried out by Van Oord using vessels from their own fleet. The GBF structure is then ready to receive the transition shaft and turbine, mounted on the central shaft.
ADVANTAGES
The hybrid solution has many advantages, including…
• Adaptability to a wide range of metocean conditions and turbine loadings
• Low centre of gravity, giving good stability when towing
• Towed into position using standard tugs, obviating the need for costly specialist vessels
• Simple steel to steel connection between shaft and transition piece to the turbine
• NDV design certification achieved for the concept
• All required vessels available within Van Oord’s fleet
• Short weather window required for installation
• Competitive cost • High use of local materials and local labour
Royal BAM Group
www.bam.eu
Van Oord Offshore Wind
www.vanoord.com
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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