Design and installation of suction piles for breakwater foundation

A new breakwater system, utilizing gravity-type concrete caisson superstructure on top of suction piles that act as the subsurface foundations, was designed and successfully installed in the field as part of an experimental project in 2004. The design utilized two concrete suction piles in a row with the diameter of 11 meters each. Four suction piles will support a 17.4 meter by 21.0 meter concrete caisson on top. Instrumentation during installation included the measurements of the suction pressure, pile penetration, and pile tilts.