Device for verifying the bearing capacity of a pile of an offshore foundation construction

Abstract

This device (26) for verifying the bearing capacity of a first pile (22a) of an offshore foundation construction comprises a body (28), a first means for connecting the body (28) to a referential element, a second means for connecting the body (28) to the first pile (22a), a means for applying (34) a load on the first pile (22a) in a direction parallel to the axis of the first pile (22a). It further includes a means for measuring a displacement of the first pile (22a).

1 . A device for verifying the installation of a first pile of an offshore foundation construction, comprising:
 a body;   a first means for connecting the body to a referential element;   a second means for connecting the body to the first pile; and   a means for applying a load on the first pile in a direction parallel to the axis of the first pile,   wherein it further includes a means for measuring a displacement of the first pile.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is suitable for verifying the bearing capacity of the first pile. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first means for connecting includes a contact surface intended to rest against a frontal surface of the referential element. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second means for connecting includes a contact surface intended to rest against a frontal surface of the first pile. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first means for connecting is intended to fasten the body to a structure or to an adapter of the offshore foundation construction. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first means for connecting is configured to connect the body to a second pile of the offshore foundation construction. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the first means for connecting and the second means for connecting are substantially identical. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first means for connecting includes a first means for securing a second pile of the offshore foundation construction to the body. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first means for securing is further configured to secure at least a third pile of the offshore foundation construction to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first means for securing is configured to grip the second pile. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second means for connecting includes a second means for securing the first pile to the body. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the second means for securing is configured to grip the first pile. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and the second means for securing includes at least two radially movable clamping chucks. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for applying is so configured to apply a load in a way tending towards pushing the first pile into the seabed. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for applying includes a cylinder and a piston. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for measuring is able to measure directly the displacement of the piston with respect to the cylinder. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for measuring is able to measure the displacement of the first pile with respect to the body. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first means for connecting, the second means for connecting and the means for applying is actuated by a hydraulic energy and/or an electric energy. 
     
     
         19 . An adapter for an offshore foundation construction including a cylindrical sleeve for receiving a pile of the offshore foundation construction, and a device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The adapter according to  claim 19 , wherein the cylindrical sleeve is so designed to receive a pile having a circular radial cross-section with a diameter within a range 0.6 m to 1.5 m. 
     
     
         21 . The adapter according to  claim 19 , including at least two cylindrical sleeves each intended to receive a pile of the offshore foundation construction. 
     
     
         22 . A method of verifying the bearing capacity of a first pile of an offshore foundation construction, preferably of an offshore foundation construction intended to support an offshore wind turbine, including placing a device according to  claim 1  on the offshore foundation construction so that the body is connected to a referential element, connecting the body to the first pile, applying a load to the first pile in a direction parallel to the axis of the first pile, measuring the load, and measuring a displacement of the first pile.