The validity of using the existing numerical p-y methods [American Petroleum Institute (API) and Reese methods] for the design of offshore wind turbines’ large-diameter monopiles in sands is questionable, as many researchers have raised concerns related to the diameter effects in p-y models. This study presents the development of experimental p-y relationships for large-diameter monopiles in dense sands based on results from centrifuge tests exhibiting a softer monopile behavior than those proposed by the API and Reese methods. The effect of socketing the tip of a pile in rock bearing layers was also investigated. The initial gradients of the p-y relationships in dense sand layers were shown to become significantly stiffer as the depth reaches the much stiffer and stronger rock-bearing layer. The lateral load-displacement curves obtained based on the developed experimental p-y relationships were found to be well matched with the measured lateral load-displacement curves; therefore, it was concluded that the developed experimental p-y relationships reasonably predict the lateral responses of large-diameter monopiles.
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Choo et al. (2015) studied this question.