Pile group effect on the wave loading of a slender pile: A small-scale model study

In this study, the pile group effect on the wave loading of a slender pile due to non-breaking and focused breaking waves is investigated by means of small scale experiments performed in the 2 m-wide wave flume of Leichtweiss-Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources (LWI) in Braunschweig, Germany. Different pile arrangements including single, side by side, tandem, 2×2 and staggered with relative spacing of SG/D=0.5-5 were tested. Based on the results of this study an improved understanding of the processes associated with the interaction of waves and pile groups has been achieved.