A CPT-based, Critical-state Approach for the Analysis of Pile Run during Driving Operations

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4. A CPT-based, Critical-state Approach for the Analysis of Pile Run during Driving Operations

Pile run is defined as the sudden and uncontrolled penetration of a pile or a pile/hammer system during driving. The growing need to install larger and heavier piles in combination with the use of massive hammers has created increased concerns for the potential for pile run while driving. Accurate prediction of pile run is important as unforeseen occurrences of it can pose serious risks to both personnel and equipment. This study presents a cone penetration test (CPT) based framework for assessing pile run hazard that builds on the following components: (1) identification of soil layers susceptible to strength loss due to pore pressure build-up in contractive layers, (2) modelling of strength loss as a function of pile penetration velocity and in-situ soil properties, and (3) calculation of the acceleration and velocity of the pile/hammer system accounting for hydro-mechanical rate effects. The proposed framework was applied to data from an offshore windfarm site, showing that incorporating penetration rate effects and modelling strength loss as a function of pile velocity and soil properties may lead to predict more severe consequences of pile run than when these effects are ignored.

5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG2025)

6 - Pile Installation Challenges and Decommissioning in sands and clays: monopiles, anchor piles, pin piles