Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand

Britta Bienen; Julia Hein Mazutti; Fraser Bransby; Mark Randolph; Anderson Peccin da Silva; Mark Post; Ahmed S.K. Elkadi

doi:10.53243/ISFOG2025-199

Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand

Britta Bienen
, Julia Hein Mazutti
, Fraser Bransby
, Mark Randolph
, Anderson Peccin da Silva
, Mark Post
, Ahmed S.K. Elkadi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

Abstract

Vibro-driving is increasingly being seen as a method for installing monopiles for offshore wind turbines. It is a dynamic installation technique known for its quick pile installation in sand that is associated with lower acoustic emissions compared to traditional impact hammering. The risk of pile run is reduced as the pile is clamped to the vibro-driver, which is suspended from the crane. Measured data from vibro-driven installation of large cylindrical piles offshore is limited,
such that significant uncertainty remains regarding both vibro-drivability and stiffness of the foundation after installation. Physical modelling can provide measured data from pile tests performed under carefully controlled conditions. This contribution draws on data sets from two completely independently conducted series of vibro-driven pile tests in saturated sand at different modelling scales. The comparison aims to increase confidence in the physical data obtained and the testing techniques used, and by connecting the two data sets significantly adds to the publicly available database of cylindrical piles
installed by vibro-driving in sand.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), Nantes, France
Editors	C.N. Abadie, Z. Li, M. Blanc, L. Thorel
Publisher	International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
Pages	1002-1009
ISBN (Print)	ISBN 978-2-85782-758-0
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-199
Publication status	Published - 9 Jun 2025
Event	5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics 2025 - Nantes, France Duration: 9 Jun 2025 → 13 Jun 2025 https://www.issmge.org/news/proceedings-from-the-5th-international-symposium-on-frontiers-in-offshore-geotechnics-isfog2025-available-in-open-access https://www.asconnect-evenement.fr/congres/isfog2025-univ-gustave-eiffel/

Conference

Conference	5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics 2025
Abbreviated title	ISFOG2025
Country/Territory	France
City	Nantes
Period	9/06/25 → 13/06/25
Internet address	https://www.issmge.org/news/proceedings-from-the-5th-international-symposium-on-frontiers-in-offshore-geotechnics-isfog2025-available-in-open-access https://www.asconnect-evenement.fr/congres/isfog2025-univ-gustave-eiffel/

Funding

Funders	Funder number
ARC Australian Research Council	DP200103466
Fugro	Fugro Chair in Geotechnics

Access to Document

10.53243/ISFOG2025-199Licence: Unspecified

Understanding vibratory piles in sand: installation and lateral response
Bienen, B. (Investigator 01) & Bransby, F. (Investigator 02)
ARC Australian Research Council
31/03/20 → 31/12/23
Project: Research

Cite this

Bienen, B., Hein Mazutti, J., Bransby, F., Randolph, M., Peccin da Silva, A., Post, M., & Elkadi, A. S. K. (2025). Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand. In C. N. Abadie, Z. Li, M. Blanc, & L. Thorel (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), Nantes, France (pp. 1002-1009). Article ISFOG2025-199 International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-199

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title = "Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand",

abstract = "Vibro-driving is increasingly being seen as a method for installing monopiles for offshore wind turbines. It is a dynamic installation technique known for its quick pile installation in sand that is associated with lower acoustic emissions compared to traditional impact hammering. The risk of pile run is reduced as the pile is clamped to the vibro-driver, which is suspended from the crane. Measured data from vibro-driven installation of large cylindrical piles offshore is limited, such that significant uncertainty remains regarding both vibro-drivability and stiffness of the foundation after installation. Physical modelling can provide measured data from pile tests performed under carefully controlled conditions. This contribution draws on data sets from two completely independently conducted series of vibro-driven pile tests in saturated sand at different modelling scales. The comparison aims to increase confidence in the physical data obtained and the testing techniques used, and by connecting the two data sets significantly adds to the publicly available database of cylindrical piles installed by vibro-driving in sand. ",

author = "Britta Bienen and \{Hein Mazutti\}, Julia and Fraser Bransby and Mark Randolph and \{Peccin da Silva\}, Anderson and Mark Post and Elkadi, \{Ahmed S.K.\}",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "9",

doi = "10.53243/ISFOG2025-199",

language = "English",

isbn = "ISBN 978-2-85782-758-0",

pages = "1002--1009",

editor = "C.N. Abadie and Z. Li and M. Blanc and L. Thorel",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), Nantes, France",

publisher = "International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering",

note = "5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics 2025, ISFOG2025 ; Conference date: 09-06-2025 Through 13-06-2025",

url = "https://www.issmge.org/news/proceedings-from-the-5th-international-symposium-on-frontiers-in-offshore-geotechnics-isfog2025-available-in-open-access, https://www.asconnect-evenement.fr/congres/isfog2025-univ-gustave-eiffel/",

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Bienen, B, Hein Mazutti, J, Bransby, F , Randolph, M, Peccin da Silva, A, Post, M & Elkadi, ASK 2025, Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand. in CN Abadie, Z Li, M Blanc & L Thorel (eds), Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), Nantes, France., ISFOG2025-199, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, pp. 1002-1009, 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics 2025, Nantes, France, 9/06/25. https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-199

Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand. / Bienen, Britta; Hein Mazutti, Julia; Bransby, Fraser et al.
Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), Nantes, France. ed. / C.N. Abadie; Z. Li; M. Blanc; L. Thorel. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2025. p. 1002-1009 ISFOG2025-199.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand

AU - Bienen, Britta

AU - Hein Mazutti, Julia

AU - Bransby, Fraser

AU - Randolph, Mark

AU - Peccin da Silva, Anderson

AU - Post, Mark

AU - Elkadi, Ahmed S.K.

PY - 2025/6/9

Y1 - 2025/6/9

N2 - Vibro-driving is increasingly being seen as a method for installing monopiles for offshore wind turbines. It is a dynamic installation technique known for its quick pile installation in sand that is associated with lower acoustic emissions compared to traditional impact hammering. The risk of pile run is reduced as the pile is clamped to the vibro-driver, which is suspended from the crane. Measured data from vibro-driven installation of large cylindrical piles offshore is limited, such that significant uncertainty remains regarding both vibro-drivability and stiffness of the foundation after installation. Physical modelling can provide measured data from pile tests performed under carefully controlled conditions. This contribution draws on data sets from two completely independently conducted series of vibro-driven pile tests in saturated sand at different modelling scales. The comparison aims to increase confidence in the physical data obtained and the testing techniques used, and by connecting the two data sets significantly adds to the publicly available database of cylindrical piles installed by vibro-driving in sand.

AB - Vibro-driving is increasingly being seen as a method for installing monopiles for offshore wind turbines. It is a dynamic installation technique known for its quick pile installation in sand that is associated with lower acoustic emissions compared to traditional impact hammering. The risk of pile run is reduced as the pile is clamped to the vibro-driver, which is suspended from the crane. Measured data from vibro-driven installation of large cylindrical piles offshore is limited, such that significant uncertainty remains regarding both vibro-drivability and stiffness of the foundation after installation. Physical modelling can provide measured data from pile tests performed under carefully controlled conditions. This contribution draws on data sets from two completely independently conducted series of vibro-driven pile tests in saturated sand at different modelling scales. The comparison aims to increase confidence in the physical data obtained and the testing techniques used, and by connecting the two data sets significantly adds to the publicly available database of cylindrical piles installed by vibro-driving in sand.

U2 - 10.53243/ISFOG2025-199

DO - 10.53243/ISFOG2025-199

M3 - Conference paper

SN - ISBN 978-2-85782-758-0

SP - 1002

EP - 1009

BT - Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), Nantes, France

A2 - Abadie, C.N.

A2 - Li, Z.

A2 - Blanc, M.

A2 - Thorel, L.

PB - International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

T2 - 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics 2025

Y2 - 9 June 2025 through 13 June 2025

ER -

Bienen B, Hein Mazutti J, Bransby F , Randolph M, Peccin da Silva A, Post M et al. Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand. In Abadie CN, Li Z, Blanc M, Thorel L, editors, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), Nantes, France. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2025. p. 1002-1009. ISFOG2025-199 doi: 10.53243/ISFOG2025-199

Physical modelling of vibro-driven piles in sand

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Understanding vibratory piles in sand: installation and lateral response

Cite this