Melhoramento de solos e modelagens de obras geotécnicas onshore e offshore

Abstract

The global decarbonization scrutiny furthers an electricity mix transition toward renewable sources. The offshore wind energy alternative has emerged as means to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and, in the Brazilian context, to counterbalance the hydropower vulnerability and take advantage of the favorable wind regime. Brazil’s high energy potential of this source promotes the development of the asset in national territory. However, offshore wind remains incipient and local environmental and geotechnical aspects have not yet been comprehensively analyzed. As structural reliability of offshore wind turbines depends their geotechnical performance, wind, wave, and current loading must be assessed to ensure that the ultimate limits and service tolerances of the design stage will be respected. This academic paper presents a literature review offshore wind energy implementation under Brazilian perspective, establishing the constraints for design and selection of the turbine’s foundation. Bottom-fixed and floating foundation systems are assessed within a limit state design framework. Emphasis is placed for gravity-based and monopile foundations, with their preliminary design guided by DNV and Risø (2002) is implemented in a spreadsheet and Python code following sequential steps. The document is structured around five chapters encompassing a rationale for this theme proposal, the current status of global and Brazil’s offshore wind sector, comprising regulatory advancements, environmental and self-weight loads characterization and preliminary design methodologies derived from international practice. The review methodology included literature identification, selection, screening, evaluation, and synthesis of publications from 2000 to 2025. The study, therefore, consolidates relevant preliminary foundation design, from simplified procedures presented in vastly cited papers along with international guidelines implications. For the instance of technical basis establishment for feasibility assessments and early-stage foundation design, this paper highlights the importance of an integrated database for geotechnical and environmental parameters, as well as the development of a national framework for design, installation, operation and decommission of offshore wind turbines.