Development of a 1g model pile test facility for offshore wind turbines

Driven piles are frequently used for foundations of offshore wind turbines. It turns out that accumulated axial displacements of piles can cause serious problems to offshore wind structures. One common method to investigate this problem is the use of a centrifuge. This technique is rarely available and therefor expensive. Model testing in a 1g environment could decrease the costs dramatically. In order to assure the transferability of the achieved data from 1g tests, validation of scaling laws is necessary.;Within the scope of this study, a new method to test piles in 1g conditions was developed. Small scale plastic piles with a length of 9.6 inch and a diameter of 0.5 inch were tested in a container filled with F-50 Ottawa sand. A large scale model test was designed but not performed. As a result of this study, a new small scale pile testing facility is set in place at the University of Rhode Island. Preliminary data as well as suggestions for further research are presented.