FOUNDATION PILE, IN PARTICULAR OFFSHORE FOUNDATION PILE

Abstract

A foundation pile, in particular offshore foundation pile, comprising a circumferential foundation wall extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the foundation wall is bounded on the lower side by a lower-side end face and on the upper side by an upper-side end face, wherein the foundation wall is formed from a mineral building material, wherein in the foundation wall a plurality of channels extending substantially collinear to the foundation pile axis is formed, running substantially collinear to the foundation pile axis, wherein at least a part of the plurality of channels has an upper opening on the upper end face in each case.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A foundation pile, in particular offshore foundation pile, comprising: a circumferential foundation wall extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the foundation wall is bounded on the bottom side by a bottom-side end face and on the top side by a top-side end face, wherein the foundation wall is formed from a mineral building material, wherein: a plurality of channels extending substantially collinearly to the foundation pile axis is integrated in the foundation wall; wherein at least a part of the plurality of channels each has an upper opening at the upper end face.

19. The foundation pile according to claim 18, wherein at least part of the plurality of channels each has a lower opening on the lower end face.

20. The foundation pile according to claim 18, wherein a cross-sectional area of a channel is reduced in the direction of the underside end face.

21. The foundation pile according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel in an upper third of the foundation pile is reduced by at least 25%, preferably by at least 50%.

22. The foundation pile according to claim 18, wherein: a lining is arranged on the inner wall of a channel; wherein the lining is formed from metal.

23. The foundation pile according to claim 18, wherein: at least one rod-shaped element is arranged in a channel; wherein the rod-shaped element is a metal rod.

24. The foundation pile according to claim 19, wherein: a ramming element is arranged at the lower end of the rod-shaped element below the underside end face; wherein the ramming element is formed from metal.

25. The foundation pile according to claim 19, wherein a drill head is arranged at the lower end of the rod-shaped element below the underside end face.

26. The foundation pile according to claim 23, wherein the upper end of the rod-shaped element can be coupled to an installation tool for inserting the foundation pile into a foundation soil during an installation process.

27. The foundation pile according to claim 18, wherein: at least during the installation process, a channel is filled with a liquid medium; wherein the liquid medium is a water-based medium.

28. A foundation pile set, comprising: at least one foundation pile according to claim 18; and at least one rod-shaped element that can be inserted in a channel of the foundation pile.

29. A method for installing a foundation pile, according to claim 18, wherein in a foundation wall of the foundation pile a plurality of substantially collinear to the foundation pile axis is integrated and at least a part of the plurality of channels is integrated and at least a part of the plurality of channels each has an upper opening at the upper end face, wherein the method comprises: provision of the foundation pile at an installation site; filling the channels with a liquid medium; inserting at least one plunger of an installation tool corresponding to the upper opening into the upper opening; and exerting a force on the piston by the installation tool in such a way that a pressure wave is transmitted to the liquid medium.

30. The method for installing a foundation pile according to claim 29, wherein in a foundation wall of the foundation pile a plurality of channels extending substantially collinearly to the foundation pile axis is integrated and at least a part of the plurality of channels is connected to the upper side of the foundation pile on the top end face has an upper opening and on the lower end face in each case a lower opening, wherein in a channel wherein a rod-shaped element is arranged in a channel, wherein at the lower end of the rod-shaped element a ramming element is arranged below the underside end face, wherein the method comprises: provision of the foundation pile at an installation site; coupling the upper end of the rod-shaped element with an installation tool; and generation of vibrations by the installation tool, so that the vibrations generated are transmitted to the pile-driving element, or generation of ramming impacts by the installation tool, so that the generated ramming impacts are transferred to the ramming element.

31. The method for installing a foundation pile, according to claim 29, wherein in a foundation wall of the foundation pile a plurality of channels extending substantially collinearly to the foundation pile axis is integrated and at least a part of the plurality of channels is connected to the upper side of the foundation pile on the upper end face has an upper opening and on the lower end face in each case a lower opening, wherein in the channel, a rod-shaped element being arranged in the channel, a drill head being arranged at the lower end of the rod-shaped element below the underside end face, wherein the method comprises: provision of the foundation pile at an installation site; coupling the upper end of the rod-shaped element with an installation tool; and generating, by the installation tool, a rotational movement so that the rotational movement is transmitted to the drill head.

32. An installation tool for driving a foundation pile according to claim 18, into a foundation soil, wherein in a foundation wall of the foundation pile a plurality of channels extending substantially collinear to the foundation pile axis is integrated and at least a part of the plurality of channels has an upper opening on the upper end face and an upper opening and on the lower end face in each case a lower opening, wherein in the channel a rod-shaped element is arranged, wherein at the lower end of the rod-shaped element, a ramming element being arranged below the underside end face, wherein the installation tool comprises: a ramming device, arranged for generating ramming impacts; a vibration device arranged to generate vibrations; a first tool adapter that can be connected to the ramming device, wherein the first tool adapter has at least one feed-through opening for feeding through the rod-shaped element such that the upper end of the rod-shaped element can be coupled to the vibration device.

33. The installation tool for driving a foundation pile into a foundation soil according to claim 32, wherein in a foundation wall of the foundation pile a plurality of channels extending substantially collinear to the foundation pile axis is integrated and at least a part of the plurality of channels has an upper opening on the upper end face and an upper opening and on the lower end face in each case a lower opening, wherein in the channel a rod-shaped element is arranged, wherein at the lower end of the rod-shaped element, a drill head being arranged below the underside end face, wherein the installation tool comprises: a ramming device, arranged for generating ramming impacts; a drilling device arranged to generate a rotational movement; a first tool adapter that can be connected to the ramming device, wherein the first tool adapter has at least one feed-through opening for feeding through the rod-shaped element in such a way that the upper end of the rod-shaped element can be coupled to the drilling device.

34. An offshore structure comprising the foundation pile according to claim 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0146] The drawing shows:

[0147] FIG. 1a is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application;

[0148] FIG. 1b is a schematic sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a;

[0149] FIG. 2a is a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application;

[0150] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application;

[0151] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application;

[0152] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application;

[0153] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application;

[0154] FIG. 7a is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application with a second tool adapter;

[0155] FIG. 7b is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application with a first tool adapter;

[0156] FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application with an embodiment of an installation tool according to the present application;

[0157] FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a foundation pile according to the present application with a further embodiment of an installation tool according to the present application;

[0158] FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present application;

[0159] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an embodiment of an installation method according to the present application;

[0160] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a further embodiment of an installation method according to the present application; and

[0161] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a further embodiment of an installation method according to the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0162] In the following, similar reference symbols are used for similar elements. Z also refers to the vertical axis and x and y to horizontal axes. Furthermore, in the present application, the expressions bottom, lower, bottom-sided etc. and top, upper, top-sided etc. refer in particular to the vertical axis z and in particular to the installation state of the foundation pile, i.e. when the foundation pile is installed in the subsoil.

[0163] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a schematic plan view and a schematic sectional view of a foundation pile 100 according to the present application. The foundation pile 100 shown is in particular an offshore foundation pile 100, i.e. designed for permanent use under water.

[0164] The offshore foundation pile 100 (hereinafter generally referred to as foundation pile for short) is a hollow pile 100 with a circular cross-sectional shape in the present case. In other variants of the application, other cross-sectional shapes may also be provided.

[0165] The foundation pile 100 has a circumferential foundation wall 102 extending in the longitudinal direction or along the foundation pile axis 114. The foundation wall 102 is bounded on the bottom side by a bottom-side end face 118 and on the top side by a top-side end face 116. The foundation wall 102 encloses an inner space 108.

[0166] The foundation wall 102 is preferably made of concrete (as described above), in particular cast from concrete.

[0167] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1b, the wall thickness or wall thickness in the longitudinal direction (2) remains constant or unchanged over the entire length of the foundation pile 100. The inner diameter of the foundation pile 100 remains constant over the entire length of the foundation pile 100. In addition, the outer diameter of the foundation pile 100 is constant over the entire length of the foundation pile 100.

[0168] In other variants of the application, the wall thickness of the foundation pile can change. For example, the wall thickness can taper from the top end face to the bottom end face, for example by increasing the inner diameter while the outer diameter remains constant and/or by reducing the outer diameter while the inner diameter remains constant.

[0169] According to the application, a plurality (in the present example two) of channels 110 extending substantially collinear (i.e. substantially parallel) to the foundation pile axis 114 is integrated in the foundation wall 102. One channel 110 extends substantially from the top end face 116 to the bottom end face 118.

[0170] In particular, the length of a channel 110 corresponds to at least 80% of the length (in z-direction) of the foundation pile 100, preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%. In one embodiment, the length of a channel can be identical to the length of the foundation pile.

[0171] At least some of the plurality of channels 110 each have an upper opening 112 on the upper end face 116. In the present case, all channels 110 are open at their upper end, i.e. accessible. In particular, the channels 110 are in the present case only accessible through the respective upper openings 112. As will be described in more detail, this enables objects/media to be inserted/filled into a channel.

[0172] In the present embodiment example, the channels 110 are closed at their lower ends, i.e. at the bottom end face 118, or have no opening. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area from the upper end of a channel 110 to the lower end of the channel 110 can remain constant.

[0173] The cross-sectional shape of a channel 110 can in principle be arbitrary, for example, as shown, circular, oval, rectangular, triangular, substantially (-shaped (whereby the curvature can correspond to the curvature of the pile), etc.

[0174] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a further embodiment example of a foundation pile 200 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 2 and the previous embodiment example are described below and reference is made to the previous explanations with regard to the other elements.

[0175] As can be seen, a large number of channels 210 are provided in the present case. Preferably, the number of integrated channels 210 can be between 20 and 60.

[0176] Preferably, the respective distance 222 between two adjacent channels 210 may always be the same. In other words, the channels 210 can preferably be arranged equally distributed in a circumferential direction of the foundation wall 202. In particular, this enables a uniformly distributed application of force in the foundation pile 200.

[0177] With regard to the following embodiments, it should be noted that the foundation pile always has a number of channels, even if only a single channel is shown for a better overview.

[0178] FIG. 3 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a further embodiment example of a foundation pile 300 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 3 and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous explanations with regard to the other elements.

[0179] As can be seen in FIG. 3, a cross-sectional area 326.1, 326.2, 326.3 of the channel 310 reduces or tapers in the direction of the lower end face 318. As can be seen in particular, a gradual reduction is provided in the present case. The cross-sectional area 326.1 of the channel 310 is at a maximum in the region of the upper opening 312. As an example, two steps are provided in the present case. It is to be understood that a different number of steps may be provided in other variants of the application.

[0180] As an example, the channel 310 is filled with a liquid medium 332, e.g. water or a water mixture. If a force F is now exerted on the liquid medium 332 by an indicated piston 334 (for example by a ramming impact), a pressure wave is generated which propagates substantially through the liquid medium in the direction of the underside end face 318. As indicated by the arrows labelled F1, F2 and F3, a portion of the force exerted by the piston 334 is transmitted to the foundation wall 302, particularly at the steps and at the closed lower end of the channel 310.

[0181] A distributed application of force to the foundation wall 302 can be provided. This allows the load to be distributed and thus reduced. Furthermore, a displacement of soil material can be achieved during an installation process.

[0182] Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the channel 310 in an upper third 328 of the foundation pile 300 may be reduced by at least 25%, preferably by at least 50% (and in particular by at most 80%). In this case, the foundation wall 302 may preferably be reinforced (only) in the upper third 328 of the foundation pile 300, as already described.

[0183] FIG. 4 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a further embodiment example of a foundation pile 400 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 4 and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous explanations with regard to the other elements.

[0184] The main difference to the previous embodiment example according to FIG. 3 is that the cross-sectional area is continuously reduced or tapered. For example, the channel 410 can have a conical shape. In this example, the channel 410 is also closed on the underside.

[0185] Optionally, the channel 410 (preferably each channel 410) is provided with a lining 436. Thus, in the present case, a lining 436 is arranged on the inner wall of the duct 410. The lining 436 may be formed of metal, preferably steel. It is understood that the lining may also be omitted and/or present in other variants (such as FIGS. 1-3 and 5-9).

[0186] FIG. 5 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a further embodiment example of a foundation pile 500 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 5 and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous explanations with regard to the other elements.

[0187] First of all, it can be seen from FIG. 5 that the channel 510 has an upper opening 512 at the upper end face 516 and a lower opening 552 at the lower end face 518.

[0188] In addition, a rod-shaped element 540 is arranged in a channel 510. Preferably, a rod-shaped element 540 can be arranged in each channel 510. In particular, the rod-shaped element 540 is arranged movably in the channel 510, at least during the installation process. Preferably, the rod-shaped element 540 is formed from steel, in particular a steel rod 540.

[0189] Preferably, the upper end 542 of the rod-shaped element 540 protrudes through the upper opening 512, i.e. from the upper end face 516. In addition, the lower end 544 of the rod-shaped element 540 protrudes through the lower opening 552, i.e. from the lower end face 518.

[0190] At the lower end 544 of the rod-shaped element 540, a ramming element 546 is arranged below the underside end face 518. The ramming element 546 can be formed from metal, preferably from steel. In particular, the rod-shaped element 540 can be connected to the ramming element 546 by a material bond.

[0191] The ramming element 546 can preferably have a wedge shape. Furthermore, each rod-shaped element can be connected to a separate ramming element.

[0192] Preferably, in a preferred plurality of rod-shaped elements 510, at least two of these elements 510 can be connected to the same (common) ramming element 546. In particular, a circumferential, one-piece ramming element 546 can be provided, to which all rod-shaped elements 510 can be connected.

[0193] In this case, the ramming element 546 may have a (maximum) outer diameter that substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the foundation wall 502. Preferably in addition, the ramming element 546 may have a (minimum) inner diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the foundation wall 502.

[0194] In this embodiment, the plurality of rod-shaped elements 540 can be simultaneously subjected to a force at their upper ends 542 and transmit that force uniformly to the common ramming element 546 attached to the lower ends 544.

[0195] Optionally, a lower damping element 548 may be arranged on the foundation pile 500 between the bottom end face 518 and the at least one driving element 546. The lower damping element 548 may preferably be formed from a resilient material, in particular an elastomeric material (e.g. rubber or the like).

[0196] Furthermore, an upper damping element 550 may optionally be arranged on the foundation pile 500 on the upper end face 516. The upper damping element 550 may preferably be formed from a resilient material, in particular an elastomeric material (e.g. rubber or the like).

[0197] FIG. 6 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a further embodiment example of a foundation pile 600 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 6 and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous explanations with regard to the other elements.

[0198] As can be seen, a drill head 656 is arranged at the lower end 644 of the rod-shaped element 640 below the underside end face 618. In particular, the rod-shaped element 640 can protrude from the lower opening 652 of the channel 610. At the lower end 644, the rod-shaped element 640 can be connected to the drill head 656 in a material-locking manner.

[0199] A rotational or rotary movement can be transmitted to the drilling head 656 via the rod-shaped element 640. In particular, in the case of a plurality of channels 640 with drilling elements arranged therein (i.e. rod-shaped elements 640 each with drilling head 656), the foundation pile 600 can be installed by a drilling method.

[0200] The drill head 656 can preferably be formed from metal, in particular steel, and in particular be designed to be retractable, as has already been described.

[0201] Although the cross-sectional area of the channels in FIGS. 5 and 6 is shown as constant, it is understood that this can be reduced in variants of the application, for example as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a channel can also be filled with a liquid medium.

[0202] After an installation process, the respective rod-shaped element together with the ramming element or drill head can remain in the respective channel or alternatively be removed and, in particular, reused.

[0203] FIG. 7a shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment example of a foundation pile 700 according to the present application with a second tool adapter 760a. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 7a and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous embodiments (in particular FIGS. 3, 4) with regard to the other elements. In particular, foundation pile 700 and second tool adapter 760a represent a foundation pile set.

[0204] The second tool adapter 760a (e.g. an anvil 760a) is formed in the present case from a (circular) base body 764 and a plurality of pistons 730 (or projections), the number and position of the pistons 730 corresponding in particular to the number and position of the plurality of channels 718 or upper openings 712 of the channels 710.

[0205] Preferably, a piston 730 can be conical in shape and/or have an optional bearing for scaling the upper opening. An upper damping element can also optionally be arranged.

[0206] A pile-driving device 762 (shown in very simplified form) can be used to exert a pile-driving impact or pile-driving blow on the second tool adapter 760a. As has been described, the foundation pile 700 in particular can be driven into the subsoil in this way (see also the comments on FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0207] The installation tool can be formed by ramming device 762 and the second tool adapter 760a.

[0208] FIG. 7b shows a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment example of a foundation pile 700 according to the present application with a first tool adapter. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 7b and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous explanations (in particular FIG. 5) with regard to the other elements.

[0209] In particular, a first tool adapter 760b is provided. The first tool adapter 760b can in particular provide a coupling between the upper ends of the rod-shaped elements 740, which protrude from the upper end face 716 from the channels 710, and that of the (very simplified) ramming device 462.

[0210] In particular, all upper ends of the rod-shaped elements 740 can be placed in an operative connection or (temporarily) coupled together with the ramming device 762 via the first tool adapter 760b. In the case of a ramming device 762, a ramming impact is transmitted in particular by the first tool adapter 760b simultaneously to all rod-shaped elements 740 and via this to the at least one ramming element 746. In particular, a ring-shaped first tool adapter 760b (e.g. an anvil) can be provided.

[0211] The installation tool 770 can be formed by the ramming device 762 and the tool adapter 760b.

[0212] FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment example of a foundation pile 800 according to the present application with an embodiment example of an installation tool 870 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 8 and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous embodiments with regard to the other elements.

[0213] The installation tool 870 shown in FIG. 8 is in particular a combined ramming and vibration tool 870. The ramming and vibration tool 870 in the present case comprises a (first) tool adapter 860 in the form of an anvil 860.

[0214] In particular, the anvil 860 can be in an operative connection with the ramming device 862. This means that the ramming device 862 (e.g. a hydraulic hammer) can exert ramming impacts on the anvil 860.

[0215] The anvil 860 can have an abutment or contact surface 890 on its underside, which at least partially rests on the upper end face 816 of the foundation pile 800 during the installation process, i.e. contacts it. The ramming device 862 can exert ramming impacts or ramming blows on the upper side of the anvil 860, which can be transferred by the anvil 860 via the stop surface 890 to the foundation wall 802.

[0216] Furthermore, the anvil 860 has at least one feed-through opening 868. In particular, at least for each rod-shaped element 840 of a foundation pile 800 to be installed, a respective feed-through opening 868 can be provided in the anvil 860. The feed-through opening 868 is located in particular in the region of the stop surface 890 or the stop surface 890 is located around the feed-through openings 868.

[0217] In particular, a feed-through opening 868 has an inner diameter that is at least larger than the outer diameter of a rod-shaped element 840. During the installation process, the at least one rod-shaped element 840 (preferably all rod-shaped elements 840) is guided through the feed-through opening 868. During the installation process, the upper end of a rod-shaped element 840 is coupled to a vibration device 866 in such a way that the vibrations or oscillations generated by the vibration device 866 are transmitted to the rod-shaped element 840.

[0218] Vibrations and driving impacts can be generated simultaneously during the installation process. While the load on the foundation wall can be reduced, the installation of the foundation pile can be significantly accelerated at the same time.

[0219] FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment example of a foundation pile 900 according to the present application with a further embodiment example of an installation tool 970 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, essentially only the differences between the embodiment example according to FIG. 8 and the previous embodiments are described below and reference is made to the previous embodiments with regard to the other elements.

[0220] The installation tool 970 is in particular a combined drilling and vibration tool 970, preferably with a (first) tool adapter 960 in the form of an anvil 960. The anvil 960 can in particular be formed essentially in accordance with the previous anvil 860 of FIG. 8.

[0221] During the installation process, the at least one rod-shaped element 940 (preferably all rod-shaped elements) can be guided through the feed-through opening 968. During the installation process, the upper end of a rod-shaped element 940 is coupled to a drilling device 967 of the installation tool 970 in such a way that a generated rotational movement is transmitted to the rod-shaped element 940.

[0222] Rotation and driving impacts can be generated simultaneously during the installation process. While the load on the foundation wall can be reduced, the installation of the foundation pile can be significantly accelerated at the same time.

[0223] FIG. 10 shows a schematic front view of an embodiment of an offshore structure 1080 according to the present application. The offshore structure comprises a foundation pile 1000 according to the present application, wherein the details of the foundation pile 1000 have been omitted for the sake of clarity. In particular, the foundation pile 1000 may be formed according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9 or a combination thereof.

[0224] The offshore structure 1080 shown here is an offshore wind power structure 1080 in the form of an offshore wind turbine 1080. In the present case, the offshore structure 1080 and thus also the foundation pile 1000 are shown in an installation state. The following explanations can be easily transferred to other offshore structures.

[0225] The offshore structure 1080 comprises the foundation pile 1000 and at least one offshore device 1072 (e.g. tower, intermediate piece, nacelle, rotor, generator, etc.).

[0226] As has already been described, FIG. 1 shows the foundation pile 1000 in an installation state in which a part of the foundation pile 1000 is founded in the underwater construction ground 1074, i.e. is embedded in the underwater ground 1074 with a depth or embedment length of, for example, between 7 m and 20 m. The foundation pile 1000 may be connected to a transition piece, for example via a grout connection or flange connection.

[0227] FIG. 11 shows a diagram of an embodiment of an installation method according to the present application for installing a foundation pile, for example a foundation pile according to FIG. 3 or 4.

[0228] A plurality of channels running essentially collinear to the foundation pile axis are integrated into a foundation wall of the foundation pile to be installed and at least some of the plurality of channels each have an upper opening on the top end face. The lower end of the respective channel can in particular be closed.

[0229] In a step 1101, the foundation pile is made available at an installation site. For example, the foundation pile can be transported to a specific offshore location by a watercraft. The foundation pile can then be positioned (vertically) on the subsoil, in particular an offshore subsoil, for installation, for example by means of a crane.

[0230] In a step 1102, the majority of the channels (in particular all channels) are filled with an (incompressible) liquid medium, for example water or a bentonite-water mixture. In particular, a channel can be at least almost completely filled with the liquid medium.

[0231] In a step 1103, at least one piston of an installation tool corresponding to the upper opening of a channel is inserted into this upper opening, so that in particular the piston contacts the liquid medium, as shown for example in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7a.

[0232] In a further step 1104, the installation tool (in particular a ramming device) exerts a force on the piston in such a way that a pressure wave is transmitted to the liquid medium. In particular, ramming impacts can be exerted. The step 1104 can be carried out until a certain embedment depth is reached. The installation tool can then be removed again. Optionally, the channels can be filled with a hardenable medium, such as grout.

[0233] FIG. 12 shows a diagram of a further embodiment of an installation method according to the present application for installing a foundation pile, for example a foundation pile according to FIG. 5.

[0234] A plurality of channels extending substantially collinear to the foundation pile axis is integrated in a foundation wall of the foundation pile and at least some of the plurality of channels each have an upper opening on the upper end face and a lower opening on the lower end face. A rod-shaped element (permanent or temporary) is arranged in a channel (preferably each channel), with a pile-driving element being arranged at the lower end of the rod-shaped element below the underside end face.

[0235] In a step 1201, the foundation pile is made available at an installation site. For example, the foundation pile may be transported to a specific offshore location by a watercraft. The foundation pile can then be positioned (vertically) on the subsoil, in particular an offshore subsoil, for installation, for example by means of a crane.

[0236] In step 1202, the upper end of the rod-shaped element is coupled to an installation tool. For example, the installation tool shown in FIG. 7 or 8 can be used.

[0237] In step 1203, vibrations may be generated by the installation tool so that the generated vibrations are transmitted to the pile-driving element.

[0238] Alternatively, in step 1203, pile driving impacts may be generated by the installation tool so that the generated pile driving impacts are transferred to the pile driving element.

[0239] Step 1203 can be carried out until a certain embedment depth is reached. The installation tool and, if necessary, the rod-shaped elements can then be removed again. Optionally, the channels can be filled with a hardenable medium, such as Grout.

[0240] Furthermore, in the event that vibrations are generated by the installation tool, the method may preferably further comprise the step: [0241] Exertion, by the installation tool, of driving impacts on the top face of the foundation wall, as previously described.

[0242] In particular, the vibrations and pile-driving impacts can be generated in parallel and transferred to the rod-shaped element or the foundation wall.

[0243] FIG. 13 shows a diagram of an embodiment of an installation method according to the present application, for installing a foundation pile, for example a foundation pile according to FIG. 6.

[0244] A plurality of channels extending substantially collinear to the foundation pile axis is integrated in a foundation wall of the foundation pile and at least a part of the plurality of channels on the upper end face has an upper opening and on the lower end face a lower opening. A rod-shaped element is arranged in the channel (preferably each channel), with a drill head being arranged at the lower end of the rod-shaped element below the underside end face.

[0245] In a step 1301, the foundation pile is provided at an installation site. For example, the foundation pile may be transported to a specific offshore location by a watercraft. The foundation pile can then be positioned (vertically) on the subsoil, in particular an offshore subsoil, for installation, for example by means of a crane.

[0246] In step 1302, the upper end of the rod-shaped element is coupled to an installation tool. Preferably, the installation tool according to FIG. 9 can be used.

[0247] In step 1303, a rotational movement is generated by the installation tool so that the rotational movement is transferred to the drill head. Step 1203 can be carried out until a certain embedment depth is reached. The installation tool and, if applicable, the rod-shaped elements can then be removed again (e.g. a retractable drill head can be provided). Optionally, the channels can be filled with a hardenable medium, such as Grout.

[0248] Furthermore, the method may preferably further comprise the step of: [0249] Exertion, by the installation tool, of driving impacts on the top face of the foundation wall, as previously described.

[0250] In particular, the rotations and ramming impacts can be generated in parallel and transferred to the rod-shaped element or the foundation wall.