Considering the Uncertainty of CPT-<i>q</i> <i>c</i> in Assessing Holding Capacity and Trajectory of Drag Embedded Anchors for Offshore Wind Farms in Taiwan

Abstract Taiwan plans to develop a demonstration floating offshore wind farm. Given the current water depth conditions at potential sites, a catenary mooring system combined with drag embedded anchors (DEA) is considered a potential anchoring foundation type. However, the soil within the top 20 m beneath the seabed surface in Taiwan's western offshore areas predominantly consists of sandy soils and the soil properties vary greatly, making the feasibility of using DEA as the foundation of floating wind turbine in Taiwan's offshore wind farm uncertain. Due to the limited methods available for assessing the holding capacity and trajectory of DEA in sandy soil, this study applies statistical techniques alongside the method proposed by Peng and Liu (2019) to incorporate the uncertainty of CPT-qc when evaluate the DEA performance. The study also compiles borehole data from Zhong Neng offshore wind farm and conducts a statistical analysis of the characteristic parameters of sandy soil. The probability density function of CPT-qc is fitted using Chi-square and K-S tests. To quantify the risk in DEA design, the Monte Carlo random sampling method is used in conjunction with the limit equilibrium method proposed by Peng and Liu (2019) to assess the holding capacity and trajectory of DEA in Taiwan's western offshore areas.