Quantification of Measurement and Model Effects in Monopile Foundation Scour Protection Experiments

Minghao Wu,Maximilian Streicher,Vasiliki Stratigaki,Carlos Emilio Arboleda Chavez,Peter Troch,Leen De Vos

doi:10.3390/jmse9060585

Minghao Wu, Maximilian Streicher + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9060585

Copy DOI

Abstract

The present work introduces an analysis of the measurement and model effects that exist in monopile scour protection experiments with repeated small scale tests. The damage erosion is calculated using the three dimensional global damage number S3D and subarea damage number S3D,i. Results show that the standard deviation of the global damage number σ(S3D)=0.257 and is approximately 20% of the mean S3D, and the standard deviation of the subarea damage number σ(S3D,i)=0.42 which can be up to 33% of the mean S3D. The irreproducible maximum wave height, chaotic flow field and non-repeatable armour layer construction are regarded as the main reasons for the occurrence of strong model effects. The measurement effects are limited to σ(S3D)=0.039 and σ(S3D,i)=0.083, which are minor compared to the model effects.

Highlights

The present work introduces an analysis of the measurement and model effects that exist in monopile scour protection experiments with repeated small scale tests
The damage of scour protection armour layer is quantified based on the methodology proposed by De Vos et al (2012) [16]
Similar conclusions are found in [49]. This manuscript introduces a series of repeated tests of monopile scour protection conducted in small scale wave flume using combined wave and current loadings and live-bed scour conditions

Summary

Introduction

The present work introduces an analysis of the measurement and model effects that exist in monopile scour protection experiments with repeated small scale tests. Exposed to the harsh sea environment of current and waves, the monopile foundations are protected with a layer of armour materials against the scouring around the monopile structure. As for the piles at sea, the wave induced oscillatory flow combined with currents makes the scour problem different from that in a river environment and the Keulegan–Carpenter number (KC) becomes a governing factor. Such mechanism of scour around piles in ocean environment is introduced in [12]. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations

Results

Discussion

Conclusion