Testing of the interaction of coastal windfarm foundations with the seabed: scour and liquefaction

This paper presents the results of a study into the scour and liquefaction response of the seabed around a large diameter (19m) suction caisson foundation being considered for use in coastal windfarm developments around the UK. The scour and scour mitigation investigation was carried out in a wave-current basin and the liquefaction investigation in a wave flume. Supplementary Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling was completed to provide an improved understanding of the flow-structure interaction. The liquefaction work was extended through the validation and application of a computational Finite Element soils code. The outcomes of the work are summarised and implications for engineering design are presented.