Influence of Scour Protection on the Vertical Bearing Behaviour of Monopiles in Sand

Extensive studies have been performed on the effectiveness of scour protection against scour erosion progression. But there is little research to date evaluating the effect of scour protection on vertical resistance behaviour of monopile foundations. This paper investigates the influence of scour protection on the vertical loading behaviour of...

Scour Effect on the Lateral Bearing Behaviour of Monopiles Considering Different Slenderness Ratios

Scour leads to the loss of soil around monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines, which affects their structural safety. In this paper, the effect of scour on the lateral behaviour of monopiles was extensively investigated using finite element analysis, and calibration and comparison were undertaken using centrifuge tests. Piles with three...

Experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of vertical loading on the lateral behaviour of monopiles in sand

The influence of combined loading on the response of monopiles used to support offshore wind turbines (OWTs) is investigated in this paper. In current practice, resistance of monopiles to vertical and lateral loading is considered separately. As OWT size has increased, the slenderness ratio (pile length, L, normalised by diameter, D) has...

Modelling of landslides in a scree slope induced by groundwater and rainfall

Predicting the trigger of a slope failure of a steep Alpine scree slope in south-west Switzerland is challenging. The groundwater (GW) flow from snow-melting and rainfall infiltration during summer changes the susceptibility to surficial failure, which also depends on the slope angle, bedrock geometry, stratigraphy and the shear strength of the...

Physical modelling of backward erosion piping in levee foundation subjected to repeated flooding: (Abstract)

Comparison of failure modes below footings on carbonate and silica sands

To investigate the differences in failure mechanisms beneath vertically loaded shallow foundations on silica and carbonate sands by way of particle image velocimetry analysis, 1g and centrifuge model tests have been performed. A comparison of silica and carbonate sand behaviour at low stresses and low initial soil density was made possible by 1g...

Centrifuge modelling of plate bearing tests

Current guidance given on plate bearing testing of granular soils suggests that the plate be at least five times the nominal size of the coarsest material. However this limiting ratio can have a huge influence on the reaction load required from plant and resources when conducted to confirm strength parameters used in the design of the sub grade...

On the modelling of piles in sand in the small geotechnical centrifuge

The use of a geotechnical centrifuge for properly capturing the mechanisms in the sand adjacent to a foundation pile is well established. Larger centrifuge facilities were previously preferred over small centrifuges, because of the difficulties of the required miniature instrumentation. The technology since then has moved on and recent technical...

Examples of the influence of centrifuge modelling on offshore geotechnical engineering

Offshore geotechnical engineering is characterized by unusual soil and loading conditions, a continuously moving frontier resulting in the requirement for innovative geotechnical solutions, and the very high cost associated with in-situ soil characterization and field testing in remote and deep oceans. As a consequence, offshore engineering...

High shear capacity ribbed piles

Ribbed bored piles are known to give increased shaft capacity in comparison to conventional straight shafted bored piles. The commercial benefit of greater pile capacity is cheaper foundations. Significant environmental benefits will also accrue from the use of efficient foundations that are able to carry higher load, leading to less excavation...

The London Geotechnical Centrifuge Centre at City University London

The London Geotechnical Centrifuge Centre located at City University, London is one of four currently active centrifuges in the UK. The centrifuge is well used and much of the geotechnical research at City University employs physical modelling but supported by a large element testing facility and numerical modelling capability. The centre was...