Centrifugal model tests on stability of large-diameter cylinders under wave loads simulated by water-level difference method

A type of cylinder structure with large diameter and height is employed in an artificial island project subjected to harsh wave conditions. The centrifugal model tests on the stability of large cylinder under wave loads is carried out by using the water-level difference method to simulate the wave loads. The results show that the cylinder translates approximately under 25-year wave suction loads with the lateral displacement of 353 mm and the settlement of the cylinder top of 187 mm, respectively. The mean circumferential tensile stress of the cylinder wall during construction is about 90 MPa, which is within the allowable stress range of steel cylinder materials. The soil pressure at the sea side of the cylinder wall tends to be stable with the increase of the water-level difference to the peak value, indicating that there is no new relative displacement trend between the cylinder and the surrounding soils, and the large-diameter steel cylinder revetment structure is stable and safe under wave loads.