EJQ1 - Summer 2024 - Journal - Page 21
Wind turbines are evaluated as part of the regular system for
maintenance along with rigorous site inspections. Experienced
technicians or engineers could identify early deterioration and would be
able to predict upcoming expenses associated with the turbine sometime
without the needs for fatigue calculations. However, one item would still
always remain uninspected, for the most part the buried foundation.
Foundation engineers have always looked at the leaning tower of Pisa
with a bit of fear. Scrutiny, and analysis of the foundations, should be the
starting points of a decision-making process. It would be a huge red 昀氀ag
if the foundation analysis showed the foundation could not withstand
more than it already has.
In the last few decades, the industry has evolved signi昀椀cantly. The codes,
standards, practices and methodologies applicable now signi昀椀cantly
di昀昀er from what they were 20 years ago. The
importance of an up-to-date analysis on the
foundations couldn’t be more justi昀椀ed.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
Following the analysis, there are several ways
WIND ENERGY MARKET UPDATE
to collect in-situ data from the foundations.
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • Q1 2 02 4 • P AGE 2 1
