Microspheres for grouting materials in suction cylinders of offshore wind farms - Yanheal 380

In the construction of offshore wind farms, suction cylinder foundations offer advantages such as fast installation speed and low construction costs. However, after installation, due to the influence of pile side friction, it is often difficult for the suction cylinder to continue penetrating, resulting in a gap between the top of the cylinder and the surface of the seabed foundation soil, forming a cavity. To enhance bearing capacity and reduce the risk of settlement, it is necessary to fill the cavity with a suitable lightweight underwater filling material. The marine sediments on the surface of the seabed foundation soil contain a large amount of silt and soft clay, with a wet density generally varying from 1600 to 2200 kg/m³. To prevent the silt from being squeezed out during grouting, the wet density of the filling material must be less than that of the silt, possessing lightweight filling capabilities. Using closed-cell perlite as the filling material can solve problems such as grout overflow requirements and material settlement.