Design optimisation of deep pile foundations installed by static forces

Marco Huisman; Marius Ottolini; Benjamin Cerfontaine; Michael John Brown; Craig Davidson; Yaseen Sharif; Scott Robinson

doi:10.4043/31461-MS

Design optimisation of deep pile foundations installed by static forces

Marco Huisman, Marius Ottolini, Benjamin Cerfontaine, Michael John Brown, Craig Davidson, Yaseen Sharif, Scott Robinson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary experimental and analytical investigations of the push-in pile concept, which aims at installing piles in the offshore environment without significant underwater noise. The concept replaces a large diameter pile with a cluster of closely spaced smaller piles. The piles are installed progressively by cycles of jacking. During each cycle, a pile is successively pushed downwards or moved upwards while used as a reaction pile. This process was physically modelled in a geotechnical beam centrifuge and a predictive model was developed and calibrated against these tests. A parametric study was then undertaken to optimise the cluster design and reduced the tool weight necessary to achieve a given installation depth or cluster capacity. Smaller pile diameters are more beneficial to reduce the necessary tool weight during the cluster installation, but require much longer piles to achieve the target capacity. The full optimisation of a cost-effective pile cluster will require additional constraints, such as the lateral capacity (not investigated here) and expected installation time.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Offshore Technology Conference Asia
Publisher	Offshore Technology Conference
ISBN (Electronic)	9781613998359
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4043/31461-MS
Publication status	Published - 18 Mar 2022
Event	Offshore technology Conference (OTC) Asia - Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Duration: 22 Mar 2022 → 25 Mar 2022 https://2022.otcasia.org/welcome

Conference

Conference	Offshore technology Conference (OTC) Asia
Abbreviated title	OTC Asia
Country/Territory	Malaysia
City	Kuala Lumpur
Period	22/03/22 → 25/03/22
Internet address	https://2022.otcasia.org/welcome

Keywords

offshore wind energy
Renewable energy
Piles & piling
SAND
push in piles
Silent piling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Engineering
Civil and Structural Engineering
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.4043/31461-MS

1 Citations
3 Paper
1 Article

DEM study of particle scale effect on plain and rotary jacked pile behaviour in granular materials
Cerfontaine, B. (Lead / Corresponding author), Ciantia, M. O., Brown, M., White, D. J. & Sharif, Y. U., Sept 2023, In: Computers and Geotechnics. 161, 14 p., 105559.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
17 Citations (Scopus)

230 Downloads (Pure)
Comparison of penetration resistance and vertical capacity of short piles installed by Standard Press-in in loose sand
Ishihara, Y., Eguchi, M., Brown, M. & Koseki, J., Jun 2021, p. 208. 219 p.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Open Access
File
DEM element modelling of silent piling group installation for offshore wind turbine foundations
Cerfontaine, B., Brown, M., Ciantia, M., Huisman, M. & Ottolini, M., Jun 2021, p. 227. 236 p.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Open Access
File

5 Invited talk
1 Membership of group

Public Engagement Lecture: Geotechnical modelling for the advancement of offshore renewable energy application
Brown, M. (Speaker)
6 Jun 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Invited talk to Heerema Marine Contractors Innovation and Geotechnics Team: Some examples of the Industry and Government funded research in the Renewable Energy Sector
Brown, M. (Speaker)
9 Dec 2022
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Keynote presentation: GEOLAB’s Second Next Generation Training Workshop
Brown, M. (Speaker)
18 Nov 2022
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

Heerema Developing Silent Foundations
Brown, M.
22/01/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Heerema developing Silent Foundation Concepts Technology in coordination with the University of Dundee
Brown, M.
30/06/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research

Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025 finalist
Brown, M. (Recipient), Davidson, C. (Recipient), Sharif, Y. (Recipient), Robinson, S. (Recipient), Cerfontaine, B. (Recipient), Ciantia, M. (Recipient), Ottolini, M. (Recipient), Sonnema, W. (Recipient) & Huisman, M. (Recipient), 12 Feb 2025
Prize: National/international honour
Winners of the International Marine Contractors Association Award for Sustainability best-practice
Brown, M. (Recipient), Ottolini, M. (Recipient), Davidson, C. (Recipient), Sharif, Y. (Recipient), Robinson, S. (Recipient), Cerfontaine, B. (Recipient), Ciantia, M. (Recipient) & Huisman, M. (Recipient), 6 Jun 2023
Prize: Other distinction

Cite this

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title = "Design optimisation of deep pile foundations installed by static forces",

abstract = "This paper presents preliminary experimental and analytical investigations of the push-in pile concept, which aims at installing piles in the offshore environment without significant underwater noise. The concept replaces a large diameter pile with a cluster of closely spaced smaller piles. The piles are installed progressively by cycles of jacking. During each cycle, a pile is successively pushed downwards or moved upwards while used as a reaction pile. This process was physically modelled in a geotechnical beam centrifuge and a predictive model was developed and calibrated against these tests. A parametric study was then undertaken to optimise the cluster design and reduced the tool weight necessary to achieve a given installation depth or cluster capacity. Smaller pile diameters are more beneficial to reduce the necessary tool weight during the cluster installation, but require much longer piles to achieve the target capacity. The full optimisation of a cost-effective pile cluster will require additional constraints, such as the lateral capacity (not investigated here) and expected installation time.",

keywords = "offshore wind energy, Renewable energy, Piles \& piling, SAND, push in piles, Silent piling",

author = "Marco Huisman and Marius Ottolini and Benjamin Cerfontaine and Brown, \{Michael John\} and Craig Davidson and Yaseen Sharif and Scott Robinson",

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month = mar,

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doi = "10.4043/31461-MS",

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TY - GEN

T1 - Design optimisation of deep pile foundations installed by static forces

AU - Huisman, Marco

AU - Ottolini, Marius

AU - Cerfontaine, Benjamin

AU - Brown, Michael John

AU - Davidson, Craig

AU - Sharif, Yaseen

AU - Robinson, Scott

PY - 2022/3/18

Y1 - 2022/3/18

N2 - This paper presents preliminary experimental and analytical investigations of the push-in pile concept, which aims at installing piles in the offshore environment without significant underwater noise. The concept replaces a large diameter pile with a cluster of closely spaced smaller piles. The piles are installed progressively by cycles of jacking. During each cycle, a pile is successively pushed downwards or moved upwards while used as a reaction pile. This process was physically modelled in a geotechnical beam centrifuge and a predictive model was developed and calibrated against these tests. A parametric study was then undertaken to optimise the cluster design and reduced the tool weight necessary to achieve a given installation depth or cluster capacity. Smaller pile diameters are more beneficial to reduce the necessary tool weight during the cluster installation, but require much longer piles to achieve the target capacity. The full optimisation of a cost-effective pile cluster will require additional constraints, such as the lateral capacity (not investigated here) and expected installation time.

AB - This paper presents preliminary experimental and analytical investigations of the push-in pile concept, which aims at installing piles in the offshore environment without significant underwater noise. The concept replaces a large diameter pile with a cluster of closely spaced smaller piles. The piles are installed progressively by cycles of jacking. During each cycle, a pile is successively pushed downwards or moved upwards while used as a reaction pile. This process was physically modelled in a geotechnical beam centrifuge and a predictive model was developed and calibrated against these tests. A parametric study was then undertaken to optimise the cluster design and reduced the tool weight necessary to achieve a given installation depth or cluster capacity. Smaller pile diameters are more beneficial to reduce the necessary tool weight during the cluster installation, but require much longer piles to achieve the target capacity. The full optimisation of a cost-effective pile cluster will require additional constraints, such as the lateral capacity (not investigated here) and expected installation time.

KW - offshore wind energy

KW - Renewable energy

KW - Piles & piling

KW - SAND

KW - push in piles

KW - Silent piling

U2 - 10.4043/31461-MS

DO - 10.4043/31461-MS

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - Offshore Technology Conference Asia

PB - Offshore Technology Conference

T2 - Offshore technology Conference (OTC) Asia

Y2 - 22 March 2022 through 25 March 2022

ER -

Design optimisation of deep pile foundations installed by static forces

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Activities

Press/Media

Prizes

Cite this