An investigation into the use of push-in pile foundations by the offshore wind sector

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a field test performed to study the effects of installation method on the load–displacement response of piles used to support the offshore wind turbines. An instrumented open-ended model pile was installed by jacking in a deposit of medium-dense sand. Pile jacking has environmental benefits over the traditional method of pile driving which can cause noise and vibration damage to the marine mammals. Pile installation by jacking was shown to enhance the pile-soil stiffness response during compression loading. Residual stresses, generated during the installation process, caused the pile to exhibit a relatively soft stiffness response during tension loading. Environmental loading caused by wind and waves which causes piles that support jacket structure to experience tension loading and the serviceability limit state of the foundation to these loads governs the design.