This paper deals with the development of scour holes in time and space around individual offshore monopiles. It is based on physical flume tests of a model-scale pile subjected to current and/or irregular water waves. The main focus is on backfilling, i.e. the wave-induced or current-wave-induced deposition of sediment into holes that have been previously scoured. The development of the scour depth, scour volume and a so-called scour shape factor is quantified which may be useful to understand and benchmark the development of scour holes.

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