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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©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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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