New Design Approach for Spudcan Penetration in Nonuniform Clay with an Interbedded Stiff Layer
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 4
Abstract
The paper describes a mechanism-based design approach for assessing spudcan penetration in soft nonuniform clay with an interbedded stiff layer. The proposed approach is developed on the basis of the results from a parametric study through large deformation finite-element analyses and validated against centrifuge test data. This can be taken as a “top-down” approach. Design formulas are proposed for assessing the limiting cavity depth and soil plug height. A direct comparison between the predicted profiles using the proposed design approach and the “bottom-up” approach recommended in an ISO standard confirms the benefit of using the former.
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Acknowledgments
The first author is a recipient of the University of Western Australia SIRF and UIS scholarships and the Australia-China Natural Gas Technology Partnership Fund top-up scholarship. The second author is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) fellow and is supported by the ARC Project DE140100903. The research presented here was undertaken with support from the Australian Research Council and the industry partner Keppel Offshore and Marine Pte Ltd, Singapore, through the ARC Linkage Project LP110100174. The 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, through Centre of Excellence funding from the State Government of Western Australia and in partnership with The Lloyd’s Register Foundation. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 4 • April 2015
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 24, 2013
Accepted: Dec 4, 2014
Published online: Jan 7, 2015
Published in print: Apr 1, 2015
Discussion open until: Jun 7, 2015
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