Grout-WATCH

Official Project Name: "Investigation of the Load-Bearing Behavior of Offshore Grouted Joints on Submerged Support Structures with Dynamic Interactions"

Project Duration: March 1, 2020 – December 31, 2023

Business Area: Offshore Wind Energy

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Wölfel's sub-project in "Grout-WATCH" aimed to develop methods and algorithms for signal analysis to assess the degradation state of offshore grouted joints and predict their remaining service life. By combining sensor technology with advanced analysis techniques, the safety and reliability of offshore structures can be enhanced.

Project objective and description

The "Grout-WATCH" project aimed to evaluate the degradation process of grouted joints used in offshore applications. As part of this overall initiative, Wölfel's sub-project "Lifetime-Monitor-Grout" focused on signal analysis for a future monitoring system. Methods and algorithms were developed to assess the degradation state of grouted joints and predict their remaining service life. The analysis is based on data from new or conventional sensors, interpreted using advanced analytics. By combining sensors with automated signal analysis, the safety and reliability of offshore structures can be improved. Wölfel worked closely with project partners to develop the signal analysis for grouted joints, using data from small, medium, and large-scale experiments, as well as from a wind farm. The results are intended to influence standards and regulations for offshore structures, enabling widespread application and standardization.

 

Wölfel's sub-project in "Grout-WATCH" focused on signal analysis for a future monitoring system for grouted joints in offshore applications. Both new and conventional sensors are employed, with the collected data interpreted using advanced analysis techniques to assess the degradation state and predict the remaining service life of grouted joints.

Continuous monitoring of the grouted joints gathers data on the mechanical behavior and dynamic structural response of the structures. These measurements allow the reconstruction of loads and fatigue stresses. Changes in the data can indicate damage or other influences, making it possible to differentiate damage events from other variations to ensure safe, automated degradation assessments.

The developed methods and algorithms can be applied to both new grouted joints and existing installations with conventional sensors. Improved information gathering and degradation predictions allow for condition-based and predictive maintenance planning, contributing to increased safety, precise situational awareness, and improved operational efficiency of offshore structures.

Wölfel collaborated closely with the project partners to integrate sensor technology, signal analysis, and other algorithms. Together with WindMW, the developed signal analysis tool was tested and validated in practical applications. The insights and research results are expected to be incorporated into standards and regulations for offshore structures, promoting widespread use and standardization.

Results

MIOPAS' new sensors for damage detection in grouted joints proved valuable in laboratory and large-scale experiments, providing important insights into the degradation process. However, the experiments also revealed that this sensor system is currently unsuitable for offshore installation. Strain measurements on the outer transition piece showed a good correlation with damage progression in the grout during the experiments. This could be considered in future monitoring concepts, although the installation effort needs to be carefully weighed.

The knowledge gained on load reconstruction enables a reduction in the number of sensors required for wind-farm-wide foundation monitoring. Together with the damage detection system for grouted joints developed during the project, the results provide valuable contributions to future monitoring concepts for offshore foundations with grouted joints.


Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Building Materials (IfB)

Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Steel Construction (IfS)

Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Structural Analysis (ISD)

Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES)

WindMW Service GmbH

MIOPAS GmbH

Wölfel Engineering GmbH + Co. KG

PAGEL Spezial-Beton GmbH + Co. KG

TenneT TSO GmbH

Funding Body: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) under the "Maritime Research Program"

Lead Partner: Jülich, Maritime Technologies Division

 


Please contact me personally

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Do you have any questions? As the project manager at Wölfel for this project, I am available to answer any questions you may have about this research project.

Dr. rer. nat. Andreas Nuber

+49 931 49708-365
nuber@woelfel.de

Study

Study of physics at the universities of Würzburg and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Acadamic Degree

Intermediate Diploma (2003) University of Würzburg
Master of Science (2005), Rutgers
Dr. rer. nat. (2011), University of Würzburg

Committee Activity

Advisory Board of the Test Centre Support Structures Hanover
Head of the Maritime Measurement & Environmental Technology Section of the Gesellschaft für Maritime Technik e.V. (Society for Maritime Technology).

Professional Motto

"In order for the possible to come into being, the impossible must be attempted again and again."(Hermann Hesse)

 

Working at Wölfel

Always new exciting research projects with excellent teams and a great working atmosphere.