1) Design of the monopile: your design (i.e. selection of diameter and length) needs to satisfy ?the ultimate ve

 1) Design of the monopile: your design (i.e. selection of diameter and length) needs to satisfy  the ultimate vertical bearing capacity requirements with a factor of safety equal to 2.5. Monopiles are hollow steel sections – refer to the literature for ranges of parameters needed. You will also need to calculate the soil strength parameters, for the sand and the  clay material. 2) Then analyse the performance of your monopile under the working loads, i.e. analyse the  settlement and the deflection profiles and the corresponding internal forces (axial and  shear force and bending moment diagrammes). To do that you have to consider two  cases: a) Apply the relevant elastic solutions, assuming constant (averaged) soil properties – the  approximations are left to your discretion – to get a rough theoretical estimation. In order  to do that, you have to analyse the stiffness parameters of the soil materials. b) Solve again, for variable soil properties, this time applying a numerical solution with  finite differences. Use Matlab to solve the system of equations (alternatively, you can use  Ms Excel, if you have difficulties in Matlab). 3) Model the problem in Plaxis 2D, using the “Embedded Beam Row” element for your  monopile. Regarding the soil material models, you can use linear Mohr-Coulomb or nonlinear hardening model for the sand and linear Mohr-Coulomb or non-linear soft-soil model for the clay. You are strongly encouraged to do both and compare the differences.  Compare also with your elastic analysis in question (2). 4) Now consider an alternative foundation, with a 3-by-3 pile group (9 piles overall)  connected to a stiff pile cap. You need to design again the pile group (diameter, length  and spacing between the piles). To estimate the efficiency ratio of the pile group, you can  apply the elastic interaction factors method. 5) Last step, model your pile group in Plaxis 2D, using “Embedded Beam Row” elements for  the piles and a beam element for the pile cap. In this analysis you can use only one of the  soil model combinations (in you have created both a linear and a non-linear set). Apply  the loads in a sequence: first the vertical force, then the horizontal and the bending  moment, and compare the effect on the results. Comment on the pile group interaction  effects.