Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 104951 |
| Journal | Coastal engineering |
| Volume | 206 |
| Early online date | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Apr 2026 |
Abstract
Monopiles are the most commonly used offshore wind foundation structures in Europe. Given how scour affect their stability and life-time performance, literature is rich in formulating and testing of equations capable of predicting equilibrium scour depth and time scale. However, considerable inaccuracies occur when applying prevailing scour prediction approaches to larger scales. This mismatch is partly due to a lack in reliable data gained from large scale experiments. A parameter that significantly increases in large scale experiments is the pile Reynolds number. The influence of the pile Reynolds number has been previously overlooked and neglected from integration in design formulae, despite its influence on how the horseshoe and lee-wake vortex systems interact with the sediment bed. In this study, two new experimental data sets (with pile diameters of 0.12/0.20 m and 0.57 m) covering a pile Reynolds number range of 1.4×104to4.4×105 for combined wave and current loading are presented and complemented with data from previous studies. Using the comprehensive data set that comprises more than 100 points, the proposed time scale equation for a pile Reynolds number greater than 2.5×104 improves the R2 from 0.14 to 0.70 when the pile Reynolds number is incorporated. Furthermore, an improved equilibrium scour depth equation is proposed, reaching an R2 of 0.67 for all data points.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Engineering
- Engineering(all)
- Ocean Engineering
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In: Coastal engineering, Vol. 206, 104951, 15.04.2026.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of the pile Reynolds number on monopile scour prediction across experimental length scales under combined wave-current loading
AU - Hoballah Jalloul, Mazen
AU - Satari, Ramish
AU - Schendel, Alexander
AU - Welzel, Mario
AU - Kerpen, Nils B.
AU - Visscher, Jan
AU - Neuweiler, Insa
AU - Schlurmann, Torsten
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors.
PY - 2026/4/15
Y1 - 2026/4/15
N2 - Monopiles are the most commonly used offshore wind foundation structures in Europe. Given how scour affect their stability and life-time performance, literature is rich in formulating and testing of equations capable of predicting equilibrium scour depth and time scale. However, considerable inaccuracies occur when applying prevailing scour prediction approaches to larger scales. This mismatch is partly due to a lack in reliable data gained from large scale experiments. A parameter that significantly increases in large scale experiments is the pile Reynolds number. The influence of the pile Reynolds number has been previously overlooked and neglected from integration in design formulae, despite its influence on how the horseshoe and lee-wake vortex systems interact with the sediment bed. In this study, two new experimental data sets (with pile diameters of 0.12/0.20 m and 0.57 m) covering a pile Reynolds number range of 1.4×104to4.4×105 for combined wave and current loading are presented and complemented with data from previous studies. Using the comprehensive data set that comprises more than 100 points, the proposed time scale equation for a pile Reynolds number greater than 2.5×104 improves the R2 from 0.14 to 0.70 when the pile Reynolds number is incorporated. Furthermore, an improved equilibrium scour depth equation is proposed, reaching an R2 of 0.67 for all data points.
AB - Monopiles are the most commonly used offshore wind foundation structures in Europe. Given how scour affect their stability and life-time performance, literature is rich in formulating and testing of equations capable of predicting equilibrium scour depth and time scale. However, considerable inaccuracies occur when applying prevailing scour prediction approaches to larger scales. This mismatch is partly due to a lack in reliable data gained from large scale experiments. A parameter that significantly increases in large scale experiments is the pile Reynolds number. The influence of the pile Reynolds number has been previously overlooked and neglected from integration in design formulae, despite its influence on how the horseshoe and lee-wake vortex systems interact with the sediment bed. In this study, two new experimental data sets (with pile diameters of 0.12/0.20 m and 0.57 m) covering a pile Reynolds number range of 1.4×104to4.4×105 for combined wave and current loading are presented and complemented with data from previous studies. Using the comprehensive data set that comprises more than 100 points, the proposed time scale equation for a pile Reynolds number greater than 2.5×104 improves the R2 from 0.14 to 0.70 when the pile Reynolds number is incorporated. Furthermore, an improved equilibrium scour depth equation is proposed, reaching an R2 of 0.67 for all data points.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105028161895&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2026.104951
DO - 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2026.104951
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105028161895
VL - 206
JO - Coastal engineering
JF - Coastal engineering
SN - 0378-3839
M1 - 104951
ER -