Technical Papers
Dec 12, 2018

Drained Capacity of a Suction Caisson in Sand under Inclined Loading

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 145, Issue 2

Abstract

Suction caissons have recently been considered as potential anchoring solutions for floating renewable devices (wind turbines and wave energy converters) in shallow waters, where—unlike for floating oil and gas applications in deep water—sandy seabeds are to be expected. This paper presents a simple framework to calculate the maximum drained capacity of a caisson under inclined loading in sand and the associated position of the padeye, as a function of the load inclination. The framework assumes critical-state conditions and is based on the establishment of yield envelopes in the horizontal and vertical loading space at the location of the padeye. The yield envelopes were established through numerical modeling and validated by centrifuge tests; they are described by a closed-form solution that enables the prediction of caisson capacity.

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Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 145Issue 2February 2019

History

Received: Feb 22, 2018
Accepted: Jul 18, 2018
Published online: Dec 12, 2018
Published in print: Feb 1, 2019
Discussion open until: May 12, 2019

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Authors

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Research Associate, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, Univ. of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia (corresponding author). Email: [email protected]
Professor, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, UWA Ocean Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, Univ. of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia. Email: [email protected]
C. D. O’Loughlin [email protected]
Associate Professor, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, Univ. of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia. Email: [email protected]
J. P. Hambleton, A.M.ASCE [email protected]
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL 60208. Email: [email protected]
M. J. Cassidy [email protected]
Dean and Professor of Civil Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, Univ. of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Ph.D. Student, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, Univ. of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia. Email: [email protected]

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