Set Up and Resulting Punch-Through Risk of Jack-Up Spudcans during Installation
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 12
Abstract
This paper addresses a three-dimensional consolidation problem through experimentation in a geotechnical centrifuge. During a discontinuous footing installation, which is typical for mobile offshore drilling rigs, periods of consolidation are encountered as part of the installation process. While this is acknowledged to expose the platforms to potentially severe consequences due to the risk of rapid uncontrolled leg penetration, to date no method has been established to predict this risk and thus enable its mitigation. The findings of this experimental study show that while the peak penetration resistance postconsolidation is mainly influenced by the duration of the consolidation period, as is expected, the load magnitude held during consolidation also significantly influences the severity of capacity reduction postpeak. The consolidation and postconsolidation behavior is discussed for various penetration depths relevant to typical jack-up installations in the field. The key findings of this study are summarized in nondimensional graphs to facilitate application in practice.
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Acknowledgments
B. Bienen is the recipient of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Postdoctoral Fellowship (DP110101603). This work forms part of the activities of the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS), currently supported as a node of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering and as a Centre of Excellence by the Lloyd's Register Foundation. Lloyd's Register Foundation invests in science, engineering and technology for public benefit, worldwide. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 12 • December 2013
Pages: 2048 - 2059
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 8, 2012
Accepted: Apr 8, 2013
Published online: Apr 10, 2013
Published in print: Dec 1, 2013
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