Large-Scale Pile Testing Research to Advance Offshore Pile Design (Keynote lecture)

Buckley, R. , Byrne, B., Jardine, R. and Turner, S. (2023) Large-Scale Pile Testing Research to Advance Offshore Pile Design (Keynote lecture). In: 9th International SUT Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Conference, London, UK, 12-14 September 2023,

Abstract

Several major joint industry research projects have been conducted recently to support offshore jacket and monopile driven pile design, employing advanced pile load testing programmes to answer key research questions. The results have augmented existing pile load testing databases and enhanced understanding of pile behaviour under a wide range of loading modes and in a range of geomaterials, leading to the develop-ment of new evidence-based design approaches. This paper reviews historical testing programmes in context of their scale and execution and discusses recent large-scale testing programmes that have pushed limits on the scale of pile testing in sands, clays and chalk. Key aspects of field-testing experimental design, test exe-cution, data acquisition and interpretation are considered including the state-of-the-art in pile instrumenta-tion. Latest experiences and lessons learnt from large-scale pile testing research are outlined along with fu-ture perspectives. It is argued that well-executed testing can lead to highly impactful outcomes and provide essential benchmarks for the development of improved practical design approaches.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Additional Information: The Authors gratefully acknowledge support from Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) grant EP/P033091/1, Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellowship NA160438 and Supergen ORE Hub 2018 (EPSRC EP/S000747/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Buckley, Dr Roisin
• Authors: Buckley, R., Byrne, B., Jardine, R., and Turner, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment

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