Key characteristics
The Université Gustave Eiffel Pile driver for centrifuge models gives the opportunity to study the installation and loading model piles without stopping the centrifuge :
- Installation of model pile in the centrifuge by pile driving in flight at 100×g
- Energy delivered to the pile : 3MJ (at 100×g)
The pile driver, developed with the support of the WEAMEC REDENV-EOL project (2017-2021) and the ANR FEM SOLCYP+ project (2017-2020).
THE PILE DRIVER IN VIDEO
Operation of the pile drive at 1xg
Operation of the pile driver accelerated 60 times : pile driving of a monopile in a scale model, then, without stopping the centrifuge, the lateral loading
Equipment
- Hammer (maximum stroke 25mm)
- Hydraulic jack with hollow rod (adapting the altitude of the device to the pile settlement)
- Connection bar (Fork-Motor)
- Electric motor (rotation of the ram: max 1000 rpm)
Services
- Installation of instrumented model monopile at 100×g
- Embedment generated equivalent to 25m (for Ø=5m)
- Number of strokes per second at model scale : 30 (corresponding to 900 rpm)
Example of MRE applications
- Pile driving followed by lateral cyclic loading
This equipment is used in the WEAMEC project REDENV EOL and in Semaan Maatouk’s thesis (2019-2022), co-funded by the Gustave Eiffel University and the Pays de la Loire Region, and entitled “Centrifuge modeling of the installation mode of offshore wind turbine monopiles”.
