Experimental analysis of scour around an offshore wind gravity base foundation

Scour processes and corresponding scour protection measures have been extensively studied for vertical cylinders. Several formulations for estimating scour and determining the optimum size of rocks for scour protection are widely available in the literature. However, when studying other types of structures, the geometric variability of the structures, limits the application of available semiempirical formulations. Scour phenomena around complex structures have been investigated experimentally in reduced-scale wave-current basins. However, the number of tests focused on support typologies different from monopile structures is still limited, restricting the availability of semiempirical formulations focused on conceptual design of scour protection solutions or in the estimation of the free scour development. In this work, a better understanding of the scour processes around gravity-based foundations (GBFs) and the performance of different scour protection solutions is gained via experimental results obtained from a large-scale test programme (1:35 test scale), including combined wave and current tests. The experimental tests were divided into two main types: (1) free scour and (2) scour protection tests. The main conclusion was that the triggering of a horseshoe vortex is the main driver of scour processes together with the contraction of flow lines at the foundation contours. Since monopile semiempirical formulations are not suitable for scour prediction, a new semiempirical approach was obtained from the test results. Moreover, two distinct scour mitigation methods were analysed (rock protection and concrete mattresses). Based on the undisturbed mobility parameter, statistical and dynamic limits were defined considering the rock grading tested. Finally, for concrete mattresses, the design driver was identified, and the adaptability of these types of solutions to seabed changes was verified.