Experimental and numerical investigation of wave-induced scouring around the piled type structures located in the coastal zone

Within the scope of the thesis, local scour originating from waves around cylindrical piles and large scale wind turbine towers in coastal areas was investigated both experimentally and numerically. In addition to the studies in which singular piles were tested, some studies were also carried out on pile groups with different settlement patterns and on scour protection. In the experiments, two different sizes of uniform sand bed material and eight different diameter piles were used. Precise measurement equipment using ultrasound method was used to measure wave heights, time-dependent scour depths and bottom bathymetry. Experimental results showed that the Keulegan-Carpenter number (KC) and the Shields parameter (θ) play an effective role together, as in the case of scouring caused by wave effects around the cylindrical piles. Using experimental findings, new empirical relations have been developed for the parameters of relative scour depths and non-dimensional time scale. The calculated determination coefficients and scattering indices for these relations were evaluated statistically. Flow 3D software was used to develop the numerical model that reflects the experimental studies within the thesis; and, it is seen that results to a great extent agree with the experimental results.