New data analysis methods for instrumented medium scale monopile field tests

The PISA Joint Industry Research Project was concerned with the development of improved design methods for monopile foundations in offshore wind applications. PISA involved large-scale pile tests in overconsolidated glacial till at Cowden, north-east England, and in dense, normally consolidated marine sand at Dunkirk, northern France. This paper describes the experimental set-up for pile testing, with unique features of load-application mechanisms and built-in fibre optic strain gauges. New procedures are described for the interpretation of pile loading data, and specifically for providing precise interpretation of pile displacements

Monotonic lateral loaded pile testing in a dense marine sand at Dunkirk

The results obtained from a field testing campaign on laterally loaded monopiles, conducted at a dense sand site in Dunkirk, northern France are described. These tests formed part of the PISA project on the development of improved design methods for monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. Results obtained from monotonic loading tests on piles of three different diameters (0·273 m, 0·762 m and 2·0 m) are presented. The piles had length-to-diameter ratios (L/D) of between 3 and 10. The tests consisted principally of the application of monotonic loads, incorporating periods of held constant load to investigate creep effects. The influence of loading rate was also investigated. Data are presented on the overall load–displacement behaviour of each of the test piles. Measured data on bending moments and inclinations induced in the piles are also provided. Inferences are made for the displacements in the embedded length of the piles. These field data will support the development of a new one-dimensional modelling approach for the design of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. They also form a unique database of field measurements in a dense sand, from lateral loading of piles at a vertical distance above the ground surface

Monotonic laterally loaded pile testing in a stiff glacial clay till at Cowden

This paper describes the results obtained from a field testing campaign on laterally loaded monopiles conducted at Cowden, UK, where the soil consists principally of a heavily overconsolidated glacial till. These tests formed part of the PISA project on the development of improved design methods for monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. Results obtained for monotonic loading tests on piles of three different diameters (0·273 m, 0·762 m and 2·0 m) are presented. The piles had length-to-diameter ratios (L/D) of between 3 and 10. The tests included the application of monotonic loading incorporating periods of constant load to investigate creep effects, and investigations on the influence of loading rate. Data are presented on measured bending moments and inclinations induced in the piles. Inferred data on lateral displacements of the embedded section of the piles are determined using an optimised structural model. These field data support the development of a new one-dimensional modelling approach for the design of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. They also form a unique database of field measurements in an overconsolidated clay, from lateral loading of piles at a vertical distance above the ground surface

Monotonic laterally loaded pile testing in a stiff glacial clay till at Cowden

This paper describes the results obtained from a field testing campaign on laterally loaded monopiles conducted at Cowden, UK, where the soil consists principally of a heavily overconsolidated glacial till. These tests formed part of the PISA project on the development of improved design methods for monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. Results obtained for monotonic loading tests on piles of three different diameters (0·273 m, 0·762 m and 2·0 m) are presented. The piles had length-to-diameter ratios (L/D) of between 3 and 10. The tests included the application of monotonic loading incorporating periods of constant load to investigate creep effects, and investigations on the influence of loading rate. Data are presented on measured bending moments and inclinations induced in the piles. Inferred data on lateral displacements of the embedded section of the piles are determined using an optimised structural model. These field data support the development of a new one-dimensional modelling approach for the design of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. They also form a unique database of field measurements in an overconsolidated clay, from lateral loading of piles at a vertical distance above the ground surface

Monotonic laterally loaded pile testing in a stiff glacial clay till at Cowden

This paper describes the results obtained from a field testing campaign on laterally-loaded monopiles conducted at Cowden, UK, where the soil consists principally of a heavily overconsolidated glacial till. These tests formed part of the PISA project on the development of improved design methods for monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. Results obtained for monotonic loading tests on piles of three different diameters (0.273m, 0.762m and 2.0m) are presented. The piles had length-to-diameter ratios (L/D) of between 3 and 10. The tests included the application of monotonic loading incorporating periods of constant load to investigate creep effects, and investigations on the influence of loading rate. Data are presented on measured bending moments and inclinations induced in the piles. Inferred data on lateral displacements of the embedded section of the piles are determined using an optimised structural model. These field data support the development of a new 1D modelling approach for the design of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines. They also form a unique database of field measurements in an overconsolidated clay, from lateral loading of piles at a vertical distance above the ground surface

New data analysis methods for instrumented medium-scale monopile field tests

The PISA Joint Industry Research Project was concerned with the development of improved design methods for monopile foundations in offshore wind applications. PISA involved large-scale pile tests in overconsolidated glacial till at Cowden, north-east England, and in dense, normally consolidated marine sand at Dunkirk, northern France. This paper describes the experimental set-up for pile testing, with unique features of load-application mechanisms and built-in fibre optic strain gauges. New procedures are described for the interpretation of pile loading data, and specifically for providing precise interpretation of pile displacements

Foundation Design of Offshore Wind Structures

This paper describes the outcome of a recently completed research project – known as PISA – on the development of a new process for the design of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbine support structures. The PISA research was concerned with the use of field testing and three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis to develop and calibrate a new one-dimensional (1D) design model. The resulting 1D design model is based on the same basic assumptions and principles that underlie the current p-y method, but the method is extended to include additional components of soil reaction acting on the pile, and enhanced to provide an improved representation of the soil-pile interaction behaviour. Mathematical functions – termed ‘soil reaction curves’ – are employed to represent the individual soil reaction components in the 1D design model. Values of the parameters needed to specify the soil reaction curves for a particular design scenario are determined using a set of 3D finite element calibration analyses. The PISA research was focused on two particular soil types (overconsolidated clay till and dense sand) that commonly occur in north European coastal waters. The current paper provides an overview of the field testing and 3D modelling aspects of the project, and then focuses on the development, calibration and application of the PISA design approach for monopiles in dense sand

Numerical modelling of stone columns in soft soils

Great areas all over the world with underlying deep deposits of soft clay have increased the pressure on geotechnical engineers and ground engineering practitioners into looking for various improvement techniques to overcome problems associated with construction on soft soil, due to its low shear strength and high compressibility. For lightly loaded low- rise structures supported by narrow shallow footings, the use of vibro stone columns is gaining acceptance in industry and in construction. In this paper, numerical analysis is used to examine the influence of various parameters such as vibro stone column length, spacing and founding depth on the footing performance. Comparisons are made with the published field trials at the Bothkennar research site in Scotland. It has been found that the upper crust of the Bothkennar profile has a significant impact on settlement performance. In addition, the settlement performance/reduction is more significant once column length to diameter ratio (L/d) exceeds around 8.3. Also, the depth of stone column bulging is between 1.85–2.5 m below ground level which is comparable to the bulging depth suggested by Hughes et al. (1976). Numerical analysis predicts a stress ratio of 2.9 to 3.4 which is comparable with the field measurements