Predicting the installation of pushed-in cluster piles for offshore wind foundations in sand

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

doi:10.1680/jgeot.25.00496

Predicting the installation of pushed-in cluster piles for offshore wind foundations in sand

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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The pushed-in cluster pile concept consists of the cyclic jacking of four closely spaced piles in a sequence, such that one pile is jacked while the other three act as reaction piles, enabling deeper embedment than static weight alone can provide. The method offers a low-noise alternative for offshore wind foundation installation, addressing increasing environmental constraints and the need for scalable solutions. This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation using 38 centrifuge tests to evaluate the performance of closely spaced pile clusters jacked into sand. Key mechanisms such as pile plugging, enhanced pile penetration resistance and installation efficiency are examined, while an optimum installation sequence is determined. A novel cone penetration test-based predictive framework is developed and validated, linking single pile resistance to cluster performance through installation efficiency. The model accurately forecasts refusal depth and enables optimisation of pile diameter, spacing and tool weight. Results demonstrate that pushed-in pile clusters can achieve up to 5 times greater penetration than static embedment, offering a promising foundation solution for offshore wind applications with reduced environmental impact.

Original language	English
Number of pages	14
Journal	Géotechnique
Early online date	30 Jun 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.25.00496
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 30 Jun 2026

UN SDGs

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

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Keywords

Silent piling
Offshore wind Foundations
Pile group
Sand

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Civil and Structural Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Access to Document

10.1680/jgeot.25.00496

Author Accepted ManuscriptAccepted author manuscript, 4.13 MBLicence: CC BY

2 Paper
1 Conference contribution

Pushed-in piles, a silent piling method for offshore wind turbine foundations.
Cerfontaine, B., Davidson, C., Brown, M., Sharif, Y., Ottolini, M. & Huisman, M., 14 Jun 2026, p. 3339-3344. 6 p.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Open Access
File
13 Downloads (Pure)
Centrifuge testing of a silent piling concept using the push-in method
Davidson, C., Sharif, Y., Brown, M., Robinson, S., Cerfontaine, B., Ottolini, M., Sonnema, W. & Huisman, M., Oct 2024, Proceedings of the 5th ECPMG 2024: 5th European Conference on Modelling in Geotechnics. Cabrera, M. A., van Eekelen, S. J. M. & Bezuijen, A. (eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 6 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Open Access
File
149 Downloads (Pure)
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

3 Invited talk

Invited Presentation: Zhejiang Geotechnics & Centrifuge Research Groups, Zhejiang University, China: Keeping the noise and CO2 down in renewable energy structures and infrastructure
Brown, M. (Speaker)
24 Jun 2026
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Invited Presentation: Tongji Geotechnics Research Group, Tongji University, China: Combining Numerical and Physical modelling to enhance geotechnical success for offshore renewable energy
Brown, M. (Speaker)
22 Jun 2026
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Invited Speaker, SUT OSIG One day seminar: Development and investigation of silent foundations for offshore renewable energy
Brown, M. (Speaker)
16 Sept 2021
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

Dundee projects and academics recognised in Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025
Rodriguez, A., Nic Daeid, N. & Brown, M.
12/02/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
Dundee University engineers hope to silence offshore construction
Brown, M.
28/01/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Heerema Developing Silent Foundations
Brown, M.
22/01/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research

Best Research Paper Award ICPE2021
Cerfontaine, B. (Recipient), Brown, M. (Recipient), Ciantia, M. (Recipient), Huisman, M. (Recipient) & Ottolini, M. (Recipient), Jun 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Institution of Civil Engineers Telford Gold Medal 2024
Cerfontaine, B. (Recipient), Brown, M. (Recipient), Knappett, J. (Recipient), Davidson, C. (Recipient), Sharif, Y. (Recipient), Huisman, M. (Recipient), Ottolini, M. (Recipient) & Ball, J. D. (Recipient), 11 Oct 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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

Cite this

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title = "Predicting the installation of pushed-in cluster piles for offshore wind foundations in sand",

abstract = "The pushed-in cluster pile concept consists of the cyclic jacking of four closely spaced piles in a sequence, such that one pile is jacked while the other three act as reaction piles, enabling deeper embedment than static weight alone can provide. The method offers a low-noise alternative for offshore wind foundation installation, addressing increasing environmental constraints and the need for scalable solutions. This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation using 38 centrifuge tests to evaluate the performance of closely spaced pile clusters jacked into sand. Key mechanisms such as pile plugging, enhanced pile penetration resistance and installation efficiency are examined, while an optimum installation sequence is determined. A novel cone penetration test-based predictive framework is developed and validated, linking single pile resistance to cluster performance through installation efficiency. The model accurately forecasts refusal depth and enables optimisation of pile diameter, spacing and tool weight. Results demonstrate that pushed-in pile clusters can achieve up to 5 times greater penetration than static embedment, offering a promising foundation solution for offshore wind applications with reduced environmental impact.",

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AU - Cerfontaine, Benjamin

AU - Brown, Michael

AU - Davidson, Craig

AU - Robinson, Scott

AU - Sharif, Yaseen

AU - Huisman, Marco

AU - Sonnema, Wouter

AU - Ottolini, Marius

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N2 - The pushed-in cluster pile concept consists of the cyclic jacking of four closely spaced piles in a sequence, such that one pile is jacked while the other three act as reaction piles, enabling deeper embedment than static weight alone can provide. The method offers a low-noise alternative for offshore wind foundation installation, addressing increasing environmental constraints and the need for scalable solutions. This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation using 38 centrifuge tests to evaluate the performance of closely spaced pile clusters jacked into sand. Key mechanisms such as pile plugging, enhanced pile penetration resistance and installation efficiency are examined, while an optimum installation sequence is determined. A novel cone penetration test-based predictive framework is developed and validated, linking single pile resistance to cluster performance through installation efficiency. The model accurately forecasts refusal depth and enables optimisation of pile diameter, spacing and tool weight. Results demonstrate that pushed-in pile clusters can achieve up to 5 times greater penetration than static embedment, offering a promising foundation solution for offshore wind applications with reduced environmental impact.

AB - The pushed-in cluster pile concept consists of the cyclic jacking of four closely spaced piles in a sequence, such that one pile is jacked while the other three act as reaction piles, enabling deeper embedment than static weight alone can provide. The method offers a low-noise alternative for offshore wind foundation installation, addressing increasing environmental constraints and the need for scalable solutions. This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation using 38 centrifuge tests to evaluate the performance of closely spaced pile clusters jacked into sand. Key mechanisms such as pile plugging, enhanced pile penetration resistance and installation efficiency are examined, while an optimum installation sequence is determined. A novel cone penetration test-based predictive framework is developed and validated, linking single pile resistance to cluster performance through installation efficiency. The model accurately forecasts refusal depth and enables optimisation of pile diameter, spacing and tool weight. Results demonstrate that pushed-in pile clusters can achieve up to 5 times greater penetration than static embedment, offering a promising foundation solution for offshore wind applications with reduced environmental impact.

KW - Silent piling

KW - Offshore wind Foundations

KW - Pile group

KW - Sand

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M3 - Article

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JO - Géotechnique

JF - Géotechnique

ER -

Predicting the installation of pushed-in cluster piles for offshore wind foundations in sand

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Activities

Press/Media

Prizes

Cite this