Author(s): Wenhui Wei; Abdollah Malekjafarian; Yorick Broekema; Md Salauddin
Linked Author(s): Yorick Broekema
Keywords: Rtificial Reefs Ecological Design Monopile Offshore Engineering Scour Scour Protection Approach
Abstract: The continued growth of offshore development is leading to increased human maritime activities, impacting the seabed and surrounding ecosystems, such as scour protection approaches around monopile foundations. To this end, this study aimed to enhance conventional scour protection design approaches for monopile foundations by integrating structures' engineering and ecological functions. Artificial reefs are proposed as a novel scour protection approach, as an alternative to traditional riprap scour protection combined with umbrella-shaped collars. The stability of the proposed scour protection method was evaluated through a thorough series of flume experiments conducted under extreme wave conditions. Continuous monitoring showed that the collars provided a refuge effect, and we quantified the impacts of their geometric characteristics on both scour and local hydrodynamics using image analysis and water velocity measurements. The results of this experimental work will serve as a valuable reference for designing future ecological and efficient scour protection systems, ultimately contributing to the development of offshore regions.
Year: 2025