ABSTRACT
An innovative numerical technique called NVSM (Nonlinear Vertical Slices Model) is presented in this paper. Its efficiency is achieved by the ability of the procedure to approximate a full 3D problem into a series of 2D vertical interacting panels which can be solved using a standard 2D FE discretization, while allowing the slices interaction to be accounted for using the finite difference method. The soil nonlinearity is dealt with by the implementation of the hyperbolic model in the new numerical model. A computer code called NAMPULAL written on the basis of nonlinear VSM, has been used to analyze large diameter monopiles supporting Offshore Wind Turbines under combined loading. The computer program is then, assessed against two case studies in which the authors used independently the commercial packages FLAC3D and PLAXIS to study large diameter monopiles embedded in offshore subsoil formed mostly of dense sand. An excellent agreement between NAMPULAL predictions and those of the other numerical codes has been obtained.
