Dundee University engineers hope to silence offshore construction

Brown, Michael

Civil Engineering

Press/Media: Research

Description

Members of the Geotechnical Engineering group, have been assisting Heerema Marine Contractors in developing alternative means of installing foundations for offshore wind turbines.

The group has extensively tested and modelled concepts that would remove the need for loud underwater hammering, which can be harmful to marine life and require costly mitigation systems, often with a significant CO2 footprint.

The so-called “silent foundations” concepts have now received Statements of Feasibility from DNV GL, a global quality assurance firm. This is the first formal step to adopting them for offshore structure installations.

Period	28 Jan 2021

Media coverage

1

Media coverage

Title	Dundee University engineers hope to silence offshore construction
Degree of recognition	Regional
Media name/outlet	The Courier
Media type	Print
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Date	28/01/21
Description	Members of the Geotechnical Engineering group, have been assisting Heerema Marine Contractors in developing alternative means of installing foundations for offshore wind turbines. The group has extensively tested and modelled concepts that would remove the need for loud underwater hammering, which can be harmful to marine life and require costly mitigation systems, often with a significant CO2 footprint. The so-called “silent foundations” concepts have now received Statements of Feasibility from DNV GL, a global quality assurance firm. This is the first formal step to adopting them for offshore structure installations.
Producer/Author	Rob McClaren
URL	https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business/business-news/1925998/dundee-university-engineers-hope-to-silence-offshore-construction/
Persons	Michael Brown

Keywords

screw piles
silent foundations
renewable energy

Related content

Research Outputs
3D numerical analysis of screw pile subjected to axial compressive and lateral load
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Centrifuge Testing of Large Screw Pile Geometries for Offshore Applications
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Centrifuge Modeling of the Installation Advancement Ratio Effect on the Cyclic Response of a Single-Helix Screw Pile for Floating Offshore Wind
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A modified CPT based installation torque prediction for large screw piles in sand
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Overflighting screw piles in sand, a detrimental effect?
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Design of plate and screw anchors in dense sand: failure mechanism, capacity and deformation
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
On the use of the material point method to model problems involving large rotational deformation
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Tensile response of screw piles with varying installation approaches in layered sand
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
DEM element modelling of silent piling group installation for offshore wind turbine foundations
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Numerically modelling the installation and loading of screw piles using dem
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Helically embedded plate anchors for floating offshore wind: potential and proof of concept
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
The influence of the installation advancement ratio on the cyclic performance of a single-helix pile for floating offshore wind applications
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Finite element modelling of the uplift behaviour of screw piles in sand
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Centrifuge modelling of screw piles for offshore wind energy foundations
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Optimisation of screw anchor lateral capacity in sand for offshore renewable energy applications
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Optimised design of screw anchors in tension in sand for renewable energy applications
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Physical modelling to demonstrate the feasibility of screw piles for offshore jacket supported wind energy structures
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Effects of screw pile installation on installation requirements and in-service performance using the Discrete Element Method
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Effect of soil deformability on the failure mechanism of shallow plate or screw anchors in sand
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ISSPEA 2019: 1st International Symposium on Screw Piles for Energy Applications
Research output: Book/Report › Book
Centrifuge testing of a silent piling concept using the push-in method
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Developing screw piles for offshore renewable energy application
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Field investigation to evaluate the uplift capacity and installation performance of screw piles in sand
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Physical modelling of deep screw piles in medium-dense sands for floating wind applications
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Silent piling for offshore jacket foundations in sand: DEM and centrifuge modelling
Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
Physical modelling of screw piles for offshore wind energy foundations
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Screw pile design optimisation under tension in sand
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Screw pile research at the University of Dundee
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
A Finite Element approach for determining the full load-displacement relationship of axially-loaded shallow screw anchors, incorporating installation effects
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Modelling Screwpile Installation Using the MPM
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
CPT Based Design Procedure for Installation Torque Prediction for Screw Piles Installed in Sand
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
DEM study of particle scale and penetration rate on the installation mechanisms of screw piles in sand
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Assessing single helix screw pile geometry on offshore installation and axial capacity
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
On the use of domain-based material point methods for problems involving large distortion
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Activity
Kyushu Univeristy, Japan, Invited speaker: Centrifuge modelling of screw piles for offshore wind energy foundations
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Invited speaker, NGI, Norway: Virtual laboratory testing and its applications within offshore wind industry
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Public Engagement: P3/4 Class STEM interactive demonstration developing efficient wind turbines and silent foundations for offshore wind, Tannadice Primary School, Angus
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Keynote lecture First International Workshop on Future Application of Screw Piles (IWFASP 2019) At: IIT Bhubaneshwar, India
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Keynote
Invited Speaker British Geotechnical Association Annual Conference Modelling of Large Helical Piles for offshore renewable applications
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Public Engagement: Tayport Episcopalian Church Talk, Sea Sunday: Local Offshore Renewable Energy Investigation and Development
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Invited Speaker, NGI, Norway: Using DEM to Investigate the Applicability of Screw Piles as an Alternative Solution for Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Keynote presentation: GEOLAB’s Second Next Generation Training Workshop
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Invited Speaker, SUT OSIG One day seminar: Development and investigation of silent foundations for offshore renewable energy
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Public Engagement Lecture: Geotechnical modelling for the advancement of offshore renewable energy application
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Public engagement talk, Cafe Scientifique: Developing Silent Foundations & Anchors for Offshore Renewable Applications
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
1st International Symposium on Screw Piles for Energy Applications (Event)
Activity: Membership types › Membership of committee

Prizes
Best Research Paper Award ICPE2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025 finalist
Prize: National/international honour
Institution of Civil Engineers Geotechnical Research Medal 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

Press/Media
Heerema Developing Silent Foundations
Press/Media: Research