Estimation of scour depth around monopile and tripile offshore foundations under varying hydrodynamic conditions
Estimation of scour depth around monopile and tripile offshore foundations under varying hydrodynamic conditions
Offshore Wind Turbines (OWT) have emerged as a key technology for achieving clean and sustainable energy. However, accurate assessment of scour depth around these offshore foundations is crucial for maintaining structural integrity and long-term operational reliability. In the present study, we employ numerical experiments to assess the scour depth around the monopile foundation under varying hydrodynamic conditions, namely: current-only, wave-only, and coupled wave-current conditions. Additionally, the effect of base material porosity (n) on the scour depth was investigated. Flow dynamics around these structures are resolved by solving the Reynolds-Averaged NavierStokes (RANS) equations in conjunction with the continuity equation for incompressible fluids, that can resolve the interaction between the flow hydrodynamics and sediment transport phenomena. The flow behaviour was analysed by investigating the velocity vectors and streamline patterns. Outcomes of the present study reveal that the flow behaviour around the monopile foundation is more complex in case of wave only condition as compared to the steady flow condition. Furthermore, it was observed that base material density (n) also has a significant effect on the formation of the scour depth. Loosely packed sediment results in a deeper scour depth as compared to densely packed sediments, highlighting the critical influence of material state on seabed erosion dynamics
Ajay Jatoliya; Debayan Bhattacharya; Bappaditya Manna; Tiago Fazeres-Ferradosa
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Special Session 5: Combination of numerical and physical modelling
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-237