Lateral response of offshore wind turbine monopile foundations in sloping ground under scour condition

This study addresses the influence of sloping seabed under scour conditions on monopiles through 3D finite element analyses. Results indicate that forward loading on sloping ground reduces lateral load capacity (LLC) by up to 35% on a 20° slope. Scour depth significantly impacts monopile stability, with global scour reducing load capacity by up to 47%. The study identifies normalized embedded length as the most critical parameter influencing LLC reduction, followed by scour depth, type, and slope angle. The authors also introduced a revised factor of safety that incorporates the impact of sloping ground and scour.