Simulation of piles in hydraulic model and experiment study on local scour at pile foundation in offshore wind farm

The monopile foundation and multi-pile foundation are common types of wind turbine tower. The effects of tidal currents as the arrangement of the tower piers in Hangzhou bay and Jiangsu province seaboard are analyzed by a general hydraulic model test. A method of simulation of piers for keeping similarity of drag forces of flow in a hydraulic model is discussed. Local scour around the pile foundation of wind turbine tower is an important parameter to design a tower. The reliability on evaluating the maximum scour depth will directly influence the safety of tower foundations. The plane form and the maximum scour depth of the scour hole around tower pile in tidal current have been studied by use of the series movable-bed model experiments.