Tripod　pile　foundation　is　pursued　as　an　efficient　foundation　system　for　offshore　wind　turbines　(OWTs)　installed　in　deeper　waters　(20–50m).　In　this　application,　the　foundations　would　be　subjected　to　dynamic　loads　including　due　to　wind,　waves,　and　earthquakes.　This　paper　presents　a　numerical　method　for　analyzing　the　dynamic　responses　of　tripod　pile　foundation　installed　in　clay　based　on　a　simplified　bounding　surface　model　to　capture　the　clay　stiffness　degradation.　Their　behaviors　under　lateral　monotonic,　cyclic　and　seismic　loads　were　investigated,　and　their　bearing　mechanism　was　analyzed.　The　results　revealed　that　the　loading　direction　significantly　affects　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　tripod　pile　foundation　as　the　foundation　capacity　results　from　either　a　Pile　A　in　tension　and　a　Pile　B　in　compression　or　vice　versa.　The　evolution　of　axial　force,　bending　moment　and　lateral　displacement　profiles　of　the　Pile　A　and　Pile　B　with　the　number　of　cycles　exhibit　different　characteristics　under　lateral　one-way　and　two-way　cyclic　loading.　The　foundation　experiences　cumulative　rotation　angles　toward　the　Pile　A　side　under　seismic　load　due　to　the　lower　vertical　bearing　capacity　of　the　Pile　A　compared　to　the　Pile　B.　The　tower　top　experiences　the　maximum　lateral　displacement　and　rotation　angle,　and　the　top　of　tripod　support　experiences　the　maximum　bending　moment.　These　findings　should　be　considered　in　the　design　of　OWT　tripod　pile　foundations.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd