Anchor Cage Design

The anchor cage design allows to optimize the foundation design and so the concrete and steel quantities.

Usually, the OEM delivers the anchor cage design. A well-designed anchor cage optimizes the bill of quantities of a wind turbine foundation. This special knowhow is available inhouse at CTE Wind and allows for sophisticated foundations such as the rock adaptor or the high plinth.

anchor cage design for wind turbine foundation

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.

Drawing of a L-flange in an anchor cage

Know-how

CTE Wind’s engineering team develops the cage and determines the bolt length, the pre-stress loads, the steel quality and dimensions and all other necessary parameters.

Equally, the shrinking and creeping of the concrete and the grout are taken into account.

Finite element method

CTE Wind uses for the design of anchor cages the finite element method (FEM) which allows to analyze the behavior of structures with complex geometries and strong loads. The picture shows the stress distribution from a tower base flange connection to the cage. Models like that help to verify structural integrity.

CTE Wind’s «savoir-faire» allows to find repair solutions in case pathology experience and FEM-skills are needed.