Feasibility of using driven monopiles in weak rock to support offshore wind turbines
Feasibility of using driven monopiles in weak rock to support offshore wind turbines
-
As the offshore wind industry continues to grow its global footprint, an increasing number of offshore wind farms are being developed at sites with bedrock within the foundation depth. Where these sites have sufficiently shallow water depths and where the bedrock is weak or weathered and sufficiently deep, a driven monopile may be the preferred foundation solution. In these conditions, the rock will reduce the required monopile length but also increase the driving refusal risk. For an example site consisting of high-strength clay over weak rock, this paper explores the impact of rock properties and confidence in rock characterisation on monopile design and driveability, and therefore foundation feasibility. With relatively limited industry experience designing and installing driven piles in weak rock, this paper also compares available methods for driveability prediction and proposes a formulation for the base (S-y) reaction in rock.
Sam Maclean; Iona Richards; George Pittos; P. Knight
5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG2025)
7 - Pile design and installation in challenging soil conditions: glauconite, carbonated soils, cemented soils, gravels and rocks
https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-635
Contact Information
- Secretary General - Dr A M McNamara
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +44 20 7040 8154
- City, University of London
- Northampton Square
- London EC1V 0HB. United Kingdom