Gravity Foundation

The Standard Solution

Coöperatie Zuidenwind has poured the concrete for the foundation in Heibloem in the Netherlands and created the basis for the installation of their wind turbines. The foundation design and calculation for this project was done by CTE Wind Civil Engineering. The expert in foundation design WTG suggested their Soft-Spot® instead of a typical pile foundation.
wind turbine foundation in Poland
Coöperatie Zuidenwind has poured the concrete for the foundation in Heibloem in the Netherlands and created the basis for the installation of their wind turbines. The foundation design and calculation for this project was done by CTE Wind Civil Engineering. The expert in foundation design WTG suggested their Soft-Spot® instead of a typical pile foundation.
Standard slab foundations around the globe designed by CTE Wind International

The design of this solution consists of a slab foundation for a steel or a concrete tower. It is the most common form of a foundation for wind turbines but yet remains a complex structure.

Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) are becoming more and more powerful and the hub heights are increasing by the day. As a result, the concrete volume can reach these days to more than 1000 cubic meters per foundation.

CTE Wind has optimized the bill of quantities massively over the last decades. And still is continuing by means of research to work on effective improvements with the main objective of delivering resource-saving but reliable design solutions.

The significant advantages of CTE Wind’s gravity foundation are:

  • Easy readable drawings.
  • Easy transportable reinforcement bars.
  • Easy buildable reinforcement and shape for concrete pouring.
  • Life time extension by reassessing fatigue life based on load history.
CTE Wind R&D Foundation Design
The most common form of WTG foundations but still a complex structure

Continuous improvements

CTE Wind continuously improves this standard solution. On one side by taking into account the developments of the turbine manufacturers (size and performance) and on the other hand through close cooperation in research and developments projects (Tower manufacturer, universities, standardization bodies etc.). The major purpose is to cut down the minimal concrete resistance class and to reduce the required amount of steel and concrete. Also improvements trough non-linear calculations.

CTE Wind adapts the gravity foundation to the existing soil conditions. Thus several variants of this standard slab solution exists. Furthermore it can be combined with other CTE Wind design solutions, such as the SOFT-SPOT®. CTE Wind’s experienced geotechnical and structural engineers support and advise our customers throughout the project.

Please contact us if you are interested in knowing more about CTE Wind’s gravity solution