On a Hybrid Model for the Prediction of Pile Driving Noise from Offshore Wind Farms

A method for the prediction of sound pressure levels over long ranges using the wavenumber integration (WI) approach is presented, based on the knowledge about the quasi-longitudinal impulse dominating the radiation pattern of off shore pile driving. The basic theoretical background is elucidated and the feasibility of representing the pile by a point source array is demonstrated. The input signals for this array, being one of the crucial factors of the approach, are determined using a finite element (FE) model. Thereby, the acoustic radiation pattern of the pile is investigated in detail and the found signals are processed for further use with the WI model. Subsequently, the results of the WI simulation are verified by means of the FE results at a reference receiver position in 40 m distance to the pile and are found to be in excellent agreement.