EVALUATION OF THE BEHAVIOR OF CARBONATE SANDS FOR USE IN FOUNDATION PROJECTS FOR OFFSHORE STRUCTURES ON THE COAST OF CEARÁ STATE
Wind turbines, sea, resistance, deformability, calcium carbonate.
The investment in wind farms along the northeastern coast is increasing due to the potential for renewable energy. New offshore wind farm installations off the coast of Ceará can be built in areas with soils similar to those near the coast, in the coastal strip rich in sandy carbonate soils of the Jandaíra Formation. This research investigates the properties of these soils and evaluates their behavior as support for wind turbines, based on field visits, field tests, and laboratory tests conducted on onshore and offshore samples. Partial results of the investigation revealed the presence of rigid material slabs near the coast, layers of quartz sand over carbonate deposits, and outcrops of beachrocks with carbonate matrix. On the west coast, the presence of carbonate deposits on the continental shelf in shallow waters was observed. The sand samples have variable carbonate content, and resistance parameters may be influenced by water pH and the presence of bioclasts. The resistance and deformability parameters obtained for these soils will be used to predict the behavior of different types of foundations. Therefore, project guidelines will be presented to assist in the design of foundations for offshore structures in the region.