Circular and Faceted Monopile Installation Fatigue Damage

Abstract

There are currently no models predicting localised stressing induced in monopole foundations resulting from pile driving installation. A scaled down test was conducted for both circular and faceted monopile, during which monopile stressing was measured. From the stress data gathered fatigue damage was estimated. Fatigue damage of the faceted geometry is significantly larger than that of the circular geometry. It is shown that in the worst case the fatigue damage incurred is still negligible compared to the full service life of the foundation. Suggestions for future developments are made, such developments can be helpful in providing greater understanding of the occasional cases where fatigue damage resulting from pile driving is not negligible and has perhaps resulted in failure.