Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental Study

Recently, the diameters and construction water depths of the pile foundations of planned and newly built sea-crossing bridges have been increasing greatly. Hydrodynamic loads are the key control factors in the design of super-large-diameter piles. However, most of the previous studies focused on the...

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Main Authors: Chenkai Hong, Zhongda Lyu, Fei Wang, Zhuo Zhao, Lei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8859
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author Chenkai Hong
Zhongda Lyu
Fei Wang
Zhuo Zhao
Lei Wang
author_facet Chenkai Hong
Zhongda Lyu
Fei Wang
Zhuo Zhao
Lei Wang
author_sort Chenkai Hong
collection DOAJ
description Recently, the diameters and construction water depths of the pile foundations of planned and newly built sea-crossing bridges have been increasing greatly. Hydrodynamic loads are the key control factors in the design of super-large-diameter piles. However, most of the previous studies focused on the inline force on the pile with a small diameter, and there were few cases to consider the impact of the transverse force on the hydrodynamic load of the pile under wave-current actions. In this study, to understand the hydrodynamic loads on such deep-water super-large-diameter piles, the prototype was one of the 6.3-m piles used in the Xihoumen Rail-cum-Road Bridge, and 1:60-scale model tests were carried out in an experimental tank, with the actions of regular waves and waves combined with currents used as loads. The influence of the current velocity and static wave height on the inline and transverse forces on the pile was measured and analyzed. The experimental results indicate that with increasing current velocity, the fluctuation characteristics of the wave-current-induced inline and transverse forces change significantly, and their peak values increase obviously compared to those induced by only waves. In particular, the peak transverse force increases tens of times and can become equivalent to the inline force. The modified Morison formula and Kutta–Joukowski formula are used to derive the correlations between the drag coefficient <i>C<sub>D</sub></i>, inertia coefficient <i>C<sub>M</sub></i>, lift coefficient <i>C<sub>L</sub></i>, and redefined Keulegan–Carpenter number <i>KC</i>*. Under wave-current action, the transverse force contributes quite significantly to the hydrodynamic load on a super-large-diameter pile, making it easier to trigger extreme structural loads. The results presented herein are an important reference for the engineering designs of such super-large-diameter piles.
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spelling doaj.art-f1e4b30374c8419bb166cc35851af89b2023-11-18T22:38:29ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-07-011315885910.3390/app13158859Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental StudyChenkai Hong0Zhongda Lyu1Fei Wang2Zhuo Zhao3Lei Wang4Faculty of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, ChinaZhejiang Engineering Technology Research Center for Civil Engineering Industrialized Construction, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, ChinaZhejiang Engineering Technology Research Center for Civil Engineering Industrialized Construction, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, ChinaZhejiang Engineering Technology Research Center for Civil Engineering Industrialized Construction, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, ChinaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, ChinaRecently, the diameters and construction water depths of the pile foundations of planned and newly built sea-crossing bridges have been increasing greatly. Hydrodynamic loads are the key control factors in the design of super-large-diameter piles. However, most of the previous studies focused on the inline force on the pile with a small diameter, and there were few cases to consider the impact of the transverse force on the hydrodynamic load of the pile under wave-current actions. In this study, to understand the hydrodynamic loads on such deep-water super-large-diameter piles, the prototype was one of the 6.3-m piles used in the Xihoumen Rail-cum-Road Bridge, and 1:60-scale model tests were carried out in an experimental tank, with the actions of regular waves and waves combined with currents used as loads. The influence of the current velocity and static wave height on the inline and transverse forces on the pile was measured and analyzed. The experimental results indicate that with increasing current velocity, the fluctuation characteristics of the wave-current-induced inline and transverse forces change significantly, and their peak values increase obviously compared to those induced by only waves. In particular, the peak transverse force increases tens of times and can become equivalent to the inline force. The modified Morison formula and Kutta–Joukowski formula are used to derive the correlations between the drag coefficient <i>C<sub>D</sub></i>, inertia coefficient <i>C<sub>M</sub></i>, lift coefficient <i>C<sub>L</sub></i>, and redefined Keulegan–Carpenter number <i>KC</i>*. Under wave-current action, the transverse force contributes quite significantly to the hydrodynamic load on a super-large-diameter pile, making it easier to trigger extreme structural loads. The results presented herein are an important reference for the engineering designs of such super-large-diameter piles.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8859super-large-diameter pilewave flume experimentwave-current forcecurrent velocitywave height
spellingShingle Chenkai Hong
Zhongda Lyu
Fei Wang
Zhuo Zhao
Lei Wang
Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental Study
Applied Sciences
super-large-diameter pile
wave flume experiment
wave-current force
current velocity
wave height
title Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental Study
title_full Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental Study
title_fullStr Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental Study
title_full_unstemmed Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental Study
title_short Wave-Current Loads on a Super-Large-Diameter Pile in Deep Water: An Experimental Study
title_sort wave current loads on a super large diameter pile in deep water an experimental study
topic super-large-diameter pile
wave flume experiment
wave-current force
current velocity
wave height
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8859
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AT zhuozhao wavecurrentloadsonasuperlargediameterpileindeepwateranexperimentalstudy
AT leiwang wavecurrentloadsonasuperlargediameterpileindeepwateranexperimentalstudy