How to calculate large amounts of calculations with AllWave-VDP?

AllWave-VDP can handle large numbers of calculations by running automated batch simulations across multiple penetration depths, soil profiles, and hammer configurations in a single session. The software applies the Method of Characteristics to model vibratory driving, computing the coupled response of hammer, pile, and soil at each defined penetration step. The sections below address the most common technical questions about how AllWave-VDP manages calculation volume, input complexity, run times, and result output.

What types of calculations does AllWave-VDP perform?

AllWave-VDP performs one-dimensional stress-wave calculations for vibratory pile driving, simulating the coupled interaction between the vibratory hammer, the pile, and the surrounding soil at each penetration step. The core output includes penetration rate, soil resistance as a function of depth, pile stresses, and hammer operating behavior throughout the installation process.

The underlying method is the Method of Characteristics (MoC), the same theoretical foundation used in AllWave-PDP for impact driving. However, the loading mechanism and soil reaction models in AllWave-VDP differ fundamentally from those used for impact driving. Vibratory driving generates continuous oscillation rather than discrete blows, which means the soil model must capture cyclic degradation, friction fatigue, and frequency-dependent behavior rather than the single-blow response used in impact analysis.

Specific calculation types include:

Penetration rate prediction as a function of depth and soil resistance
Compression and tension stress distribution along the pile at each penetration level
Hammer operating parameters, including frequency, amplitude, and power consumption
Soil resistance to driving (SRD) profiles derived from CPT or other ground investigation data
Refusal risk assessment, identifying depths where further penetration may become impractical
Energy transfer and pile head motion throughout the vibratory installation sequence

These calculations together answer a broader question than simply whether the pile can reach target depth. A complete Vibratory Driving Prediction also evaluates whether pile stresses remain within structural limits, whether the hammer can operate within its rated parameters, and where friction fatigue may reduce skin resistance significantly during installation.

How does AllWave-VDP handle large-scale batch calculations?

AllWave-VDP handles large-scale calculations by automating the simulation loop across all defined penetration steps, soil layer transitions, and parameter variations within a single run. Rather than requiring manual input for each depth increment, the software advances through the penetration sequence systematically, updating soil resistance, active pile length, and boundary conditions at each step.

For projects that require sensitivity analyses or multi-scenario comparisons, the calculation volume grows quickly. A single drivability study may involve:

Multiple soil profiles from different CPT locations across the site
Several hammer configurations or power settings
Upper-bound and lower-bound SRD assumptions
Different pile geometries or wall thicknesses
Varying penetration step sizes for critical depth intervals

Each combination represents a separate simulation run, and a thorough drivability prediction for an offshore project can realistically involve dozens to hundreds of individual calculations. The AllWave software package is structured to support this kind of systematic parameter variation, allowing engineers to organize runs in a logical sequence and compare outputs across scenarios without rebuilding the model from scratch for each case.

The key to managing this volume efficiently is a well-structured input file and a clearly defined parameter matrix before the simulations begin. Defining all soil model variants, hammer options, and pile configurations upfront allows the batch to run with minimal manual intervention between cases.

What input parameters affect calculation volume in AllWave-VDP?

The calculation volume in AllWave-VDP scales directly with the number of parameter combinations you define. The more variables you allow to change across runs, the more individual simulations the full study requires. The most significant drivers of calculation volume are soil profile variability, penetration step resolution, and the number of hammer or pile configurations under evaluation.

Soil model parameters

Soil resistance to driving (SRD) is typically the largest source of uncertainty in any vibratory driving prediction, and it is also the parameter that most directly multiplies calculation volume. A responsible sensitivity analysis tests at minimum an upper-bound and lower-bound SRD scenario for each soil profile. On sites with multiple CPT locations or variable stratigraphy, this means the number of soil model variants can grow rapidly. CPT-based soil modelling for pile driving requires translating cone resistance data into layer-by-layer shaft and toe resistance values, and each interpretation choice, including friction fatigue factors and plug behavior assumptions, can produce a distinct model that warrants its own simulation run.

Penetration step size and pile geometry

Finer penetration steps increase the number of calculation points within a single run. For most of the pile’s travel, coarser steps are acceptable, but at critical transitions, such as layer boundaries, refusal-risk zones, or depths where pile stresses approach structural limits, smaller steps are needed to capture behavior accurately. Pile geometry inputs including total length, wall thickness, cross-section changes, and segment connections also affect how the stress-wave propagation is discretized internally, which influences both accuracy and the computational work per step.

How long does it take to run large AllWave-VDP simulations?

Individual AllWave-VDP simulation runs are computationally efficient, typically completing within seconds to a few minutes per case on standard engineering workstations. The total time for a large study depends on the number of runs in the batch, the penetration step resolution, and the complexity of the soil and pile models rather than on any single simulation being slow.

For a project involving, for example, 50 to 100 individual simulation runs across multiple soil profiles and hammer configurations, total computation time is generally measured in minutes to a few hours rather than days. The more time-intensive part of a large soil modelling study for pile driving is typically the preparation and quality-checking of input data, not the computation itself.

Practical factors that influence total run time include:

Number of penetration steps per simulation
Number of pile segments and cross-section changes
Complexity of the dynamic soil model and the number of soil layers
Number of parameter combinations in the sensitivity matrix
Post-processing and result extraction steps between runs

Because the Method of Characteristics solves the wave equation along characteristic lines rather than using finite element discretization, the computational load per run remains manageable even for long piles with many segments. This efficiency makes it practical to run comprehensive sensitivity analyses as a standard part of the prediction workflow rather than as an optional extra.

How are AllWave-VDP results organized and exported?

AllWave-VDP organizes results by penetration depth, producing output profiles that show how each calculated quantity evolves as the pile advances through the soil. The primary result sets include penetration rate versus depth, pile stress distributions at each penetration level, hammer operating parameters, and soil resistance profiles. These outputs can be reviewed numerically and graphically within the software environment.

For large batch studies, the ability to export and compare results across multiple runs is important for drawing practical conclusions. Typical export formats support further processing in spreadsheet or reporting tools, allowing your team to overlay results from different soil scenarios, hammer configurations, or pile geometries on the same plot. This makes it straightforward to identify the governing case, the depth range with the highest refusal risk, or the configuration that keeps pile stresses within structural limits across all soil scenarios.

Results that are particularly useful to extract and organize for reporting include:

Penetration rate profiles for upper-bound and lower-bound SRD cases
Maximum compression and tension stresses as a function of depth
Predicted installation time and total number of oscillation cycles
Depth at which refusal conditions may develop
Hammer power and frequency behavior across the penetration range

A well-organized result set also serves as the starting point for the post-installation phase. When actual monitoring data becomes available during or after pile installation, the predicted profiles can be compared directly against measured behavior, enabling back-analysis and model refinement. This feedback loop, from prediction through monitoring to an updated soil model, is what transforms a one-time calculation into a continuously improving knowledge base for future projects.

How We Support Your Drivability Predictions with AllWave-VDP

We use AllWave-VDP as part of a structured drivability engineering workflow that goes beyond running individual simulations. Our approach connects ground investigation data, pile and hammer modelling, sensitivity analysis, and post-installation validation into a single coherent process.

When you work with us on a Vibratory Driving Prediction, we provide:

CPT-based soil model development, translating your ground investigation data into layer-by-layer SRD profiles with explicit upper- and lower-bound assumptions
Pile and hammer modelling, including geometry, material properties, cross-section changes, and hammer library selection
Batch simulation management, running the full parameter matrix across soil scenarios, hammer configurations, and penetration ranges
Sensitivity analysis and refusal risk assessment, identifying the critical depths and conditions that govern installation feasibility
Result reporting, with clearly organized output profiles that your team can use directly for planning, procurement, and risk management
Post-installation back-analysis, comparing predictions against monitoring data to refine the soil model and improve future predictions

Our drivability studies are grounded in decades of experience with both impact and vibratory driving, onshore and offshore, and draw on the same methodological development that produced the AllWave software tools. If you are planning a project that requires reliable AllWave-VDP calculations or a complete drivability study, contact our team to discuss your project requirements.