Development of a mini vibro-driver for pile testing in the centrifuge

Using vibro-installation to fully install monopiles for offshore wind turbines (OWT) has the potential to mitigate pile run, considerably reduce noise emissions to the marine environment and reduce project costs. However, due to the complexity of vibro-installation and the sparsity of quantitative data acquired during installation, the mechanisms underpinning vibro-driving are not fully understood. This leads to uncertainties in engineering prediction of vibro-drivability and the post-installation performance of monopiles. Consequently, an innovative mini vibro-driver for use in a geotechnical centrifuge was developed to study vibro-installation and the lateral loading response of monopiles in sand after installation. The challenges related to the vibro-driver design, working principles and capabilities are described in the paper. Results from vibro-driven pile installation are discussed and provide an indication of the type and quality of data obtained.