Liquefaction Phenomena underneath Marine Gravity Structures Subjected to Wave Loads
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 4
Abstract
The foundation of a vertical breakwater or offshore gravity platform may fail due to wave loading. The question is discussed whether liquefaction phenomena in a sandy subsoil, such as the generation of residual excess pore pressures and cyclic mobility, may significantly contribute to such failure. Theory, descriptions of prototype failure cases, and several scale tests are analyzed. It is concluded that the most spectacular failure type “liquefaction flow failure” is only possible in the case of a subsoil of very loose sand or silt combined with a low drainage potential, e.g., by the presence of a clay layer or large structure dimensions. Three other potential failure types are more likely in other cases: stepwise liquefaction failure, stepwise failure, and wobble failure. Their relevance increases with decreasing relative density and decreasing drainage potential. Brief recommendations for assessment of each failure type are presented.
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Acknowledgments
This study was partially funded by the European Commission Research Directorate, FP5, specific program “Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development,” Contract No. EVK3-CT-2000-00038, Liquefaction Around Marine Structures LIMAS ⟨http://www.isva.dtu.dk/limas:public/limas2.html⟩. Another part was funded by Delft Cluster, performing fundamental research for sustainable delta development. Delft Cluster is an organization for joint research established by six institutes in The Netherlands.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 4 • July 2006
Pages: 325 - 335
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 17, 2004
Accepted: Dec 1, 2005
Published online: Jul 1, 2006
Published in print: Jul 2006
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