Tripod　suction　buckets　offer　many　advantages　as　foundations　for　offshore　wind　turbines　including　fast　and　economic　installation　and　high　overturning　resistance.　In　this　application,　tripod　suction　buckets　are　subjected　to　dynamic　loads　such　as　wind　and　waves　as　well　as　earthquakes.　However,　their　dynamic　and　seismic　performance　characteristics　in　cohesive　soils　are　not　well　covered　in　the　literature.　This　study　investigates　the　dynamic　behavior　of　tripod　foundation　installed　in　clay　employing　advanced　three-dimensional　nonlinear　finite　element　analysis.　Its　rotation　mechanism　is　analyzed　considering　different　load　cases　including　environmental　loads,　seismic　load　or　combined　action　of　seismic　and　environmental　loads.　The　dynamic　response　was　evaluated　considering　ground　motions　with　varying　intensity　and　frequency　content,　and　environmental　loads　with　varying　magnitudes.　It　was　found　that　even　though　the　OWTs　system　may　not　experience　instability　failure　due　to　the　combined　action　of　seismic　and　environmental　loads,　it　is　likely　to　fail　to　meet　the　requirements　of　SLS　due　to　large　permanent　rotation　associated　with　large　settlement　of　the　leeward　bucket　compared　to　that　of　the　windward　bucket.　It　was　found　that　the　frequency　content　of　the　ground　motion　has　a　significant　effect　on　dynamic　response　of　tripod　foundation;　larger　permanent　rotation　can　occur　when　the　seismic　predominant　frequency　is　close　to　the　frequency　ranges　of　1p　and　3p　for　the　wind　turbine　structure.　The　rotation　angle　of　wind　turbine　structure　depends　on　both　the　predominant　frequency　and　intensity　of　the　ground　motion.　These　observations　should　be　considered　in　the　seismic　design　of　tripod　foundations　of　OWTs.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd