cognIGSance Webinar series

TC209- Offshore

TC209-Offshore

cognIGSance

IGS Webinar Series on Challenges and Opportunities in Offshore Geotechnics in India

August 21, 2026

16:00 hrs IST

Book Event

This webinar is free to attend but registration is essential

TITLE : Pushed-in cluster piles for offshore wind foundations: advanced numerical and physical modelling

ABSTRACT : The pushed-in cluster pile concept, were four closely-spaced piles are jacked in a sequence, offers a new low-noise alternative for the installation of offshore foundations. Centrifuge and DEM modelling were combined to identify key physical mechanisms across a range of realistic geometrical parameters and sand densities. A simplified CPT-based predictive model was developed to calculate refusal depth and enable the optimisation of design parameters.

SPEAKER: Dr. Benjamin Cerfontaine

Associate Professor, University of Southampton

Dr. Benjamin Cerfontaine is an Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Southampton whose research focuses on developing innovative geotechnical solutions for offshore renewable energy infrastructure. His expertise spans offshore geotechnics, numerical and physical modelling, constitutive modelling of geomaterials under cyclic loading, and advanced simulation techniques including finite element, discrete element (DEM), and centrifuge modelling. His work primarily addresses the design and performance of offshore foundations and anchoring systems for wind, tidal, and wave energy applications, with particular emphasis on sustainable foundation technologies such as suction caissons, screw piles, and shared anchors. Before joining Southampton, he was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellow at the University of Dundee and earned his PhD from the University of Liège, Belgium, in 2014. He has received several prestigious recognitions, including the Geotechnical Research Medal and the Bright Spark Lecture Award, reflecting his significant contributions to geotechnical engineering and offshore renewable energy research.

About cognIGSance

This quarterly lecture series, cognIGSance, is set to feature speakers from around the world deeply involved in offshore geotechnics. This initiative gains further significance with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)'s advocacy for upcoming offshore wind farms in coastal regions of the Indian states of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The lecture series aims to educate and create awareness about international practices in offshore geotechnics, specifically addressing geomechanics and reliability-based design issues of offshore wind farms. The series will address various aspects of offshore geotechnics, including physical and numerical modeling, site investigations, installation effects, planning, logistics, and structural health monitoring. The goal is also to enhance the understanding of advanced practices and innovations in the field, including the development of constitutive models for dynamic soil behavior, soil-structure interaction challenges, and the environmental context of offshore projects in India's coastal regions.

Upcoming Lectures