Event Date
The Gentle Driving of Piles (GDP) technology is a pioneering approach to the vibratory installation of tubular monopiles, aiming to achieve efficient pile installation and minimal noise emissions by combining axial and torsional vibrations. GDP's fundamental principle revolves around the use of both vibration modes to enhance pile driving effectiveness while mitigating environmental impact.
The recent GDP research project pursued two primary objectives: technological advancement and validation. To this end, comprehensive onshore medium-scale tests were conducted at the Maasvlakte II site in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. These tests encompassed various driving methods, including GDP, and were executed in sandy soil. The outcomes of these initial tests provide valuable insights into the relative performance of different installation techniques.
An integral facet of GDP's viability lies in its installation performance, which holds great significance in pile driving operations. The presentation will delve into the analysis of structural and ground monitoring data to elucidate the governing mechanisms and effectiveness of GDP-driven installations. A meticulous comparison between GDP and traditional axial vibro-driving methods accentuates GDP's distinctive advantages, notably the beneficial impact of torsional vibration, which enhances installation performance.
Beyond the installation phase, the presentation will elaborate on the post-installation behaviour of GDP-driven piles. These piles exhibit commendable performance under diverse loading conditions, encompassing slow/large-amplitude cyclic loading and faster/low-amplitude dynamic loading scenarios. A comprehensive analysis of field data and numerical modelling, employing a novel cyclic p-y approach, reveals promising insights into GDP's installation effects and its potential benefits in comparison to conventional methods.
In conclusion, the presentation will discuss prospective developments in the trajectory of GDP's research. By harmonising axial and torsional vibrations, GDP not only guarantees efficient pile installation but also aligns with the increasing demand for environmentally-conscious construction practices. As GDP evolves from early demonstrations to full-scale deployment, this technology will facilitate sustainable and effective foundation engineering across various applications, spanning from onshore construction to offshore installations.
Speaker Bio
Federico Pisanò joined NGI in January 2023 as the Manager of Offshore Wind USA. Previously, he earned his Ph.D. degree in 2011 from Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of California at Davis (2012) and Politecnico di Milano (2013). In 2014, he assumed the role of Assistant Professor (subsequently promoted to Associate Professor in 2021) of Offshore Soil Mechanics at TU Delft in the Netherlands. His technical expertise relates to developing and applying advanced numerical models to comprehend and predict soil behavior and soil-structure interaction processes, with a particular focus on offshore wind applications in recent years.
Federico has co-authored more than 80 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He also co-chaired the 4th International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing (CPT’18) and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the ISSMGE Technical Committee TC209 (Offshore Geotechnics) and member of Géotechnique Letters’ editorial panel. He received the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture Award for emerging academics in 2019 and the ICE David Hislop Award (Offshore Award) in 2022.
In his current role with NGI, Federico works at the interface between industry and academia, supporting both consulting and R&D activities. His primary focus is on the emerging offshore wind market in the USA, where he is leading the establishment of a new NGI team in Boston.