Lateral-bearing behaviour of vibratory driven monopiles in different model test set-ups Available to Purchase

This paper presents a comparison between two different but dependent model test set-ups to investigate the vibratory pile penetration and lateral loading behaviour in sand. Relevant considerations were made regarding the dimensional analysis, identifying the wave propagation velocity in the pile as well as the displacement amplitude in combination with the mass and flexural rigidity of the pile as the main parameters for maintaining dynamic similitude. The results of two representative model tests are compared with each other, with emphasis on their similarities and differences, to prove the applicability of the two different model test set-ups. The results of the pile installation process showed good agreement between the penetration rates. The back-calculated soil-reaction stress during installation indicates limitations regarding the similitude of the dynamic behaviour of the model piles used in the two different model test set-ups. Although the lateral-bearing behaviour of both model tests is similar, this result indicates that the soil reaction due to the vibratory pile driving towards the end of the installation process is an important factor influencing the lateral-bearing behaviour, and it further justifies the approach of using two different test set-ups to investigate the lateral-bearing behaviour of vibratory driven monopiles.