Technical Notes
Jun 30, 2020

Improved Prediction of Spudcan Penetration Resistance by an Observation-Optimized Model

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 9

Abstract

The prediction models of penetration resistances of spudcan footings on sand overlying clay have been established by extensive centrifuge tests and large-deformation numerical simulations. However, most existing models have been based on deterministic analyses, where the measurement deviation of soil strength profiles was not considered. A parameter estimation technique to improve the predictions of the deterministic models is developed by using the penetration resistance data measured at depths shallower than the current. The divergence between the prediction of the deterministic model and the measurement is attributed to the uncertainties of soil properties. A deterministic model, termed HU15, is used to provide the original prediction, and two properties of the clay layer are adjusted with measured resistances prior to the peak resistance in the upper sand layer and after punch-through in the underlying clay layer. The parameter estimation technique combined with the HU15 model shows satisfactory performance when it is verified against the existing data from centrifuge and field tests.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Acknowledgments

This research is supported by the Key R&D program of Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2017YFC1404100 and 2017YFC1404102), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (through Grant Nos. U1806230, 41772294, 41775100, and 41830964). The suggestion from Professor Yuxia Hu at the University of Western Australia is appreciated.

References

Abaqus 6.11. 2011. ABAQUS analysis user’s manual. Providence, RI: Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp.
Bienen, B., M. Cassidy, M. Randolph, and K. L. Teh. 2011. “Characterisation of undrained shear strength using statistical methods.” In Proc., 2nd Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, 661–666. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Cassidy, M., L. Li, P. Hu, M. Uzielli, and S. Lacasse. 2015. “Deterministic and probabilistic advances in the analysis of spudcan behaviour.” In Proc., 3rd Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, 183–212. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Craig, W. H., and K. Chua. 1990. “Deep penetration of spudcan foundations on sand and clay.” Géotechnique 40 (4): 541–556. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.4.541.
Dee, D. P. 2005. “Bias and data assimilation.” J. Royal Meteorol. Soc. J. Atmos. Sci. Appl. Meteorol. Phys. Oceanogr. 131 (613): 3323–3343. https://doi.org/10.1256/qj.05.137.
Hanna, A. M., and G. G. Meyerhof. 1980. “Design charts for ultimate bearing capacity of foundations on sand overlying soft clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 17 (2): 300–303. https://doi.org/10.1139/t80-030.
Hansen, J. A., and C. Penland. 2007. “On stochastic parameter estimation using data assimilation.” Phys. D 230 (1–2): 88–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2006.11.006.
Hossain, M. S., P. Hu, M. J. Cassidy, D. Menzies, and A. Wingate. 2019. “Measured and calculated spudcan penetration profiles for case histories in sand-over-clay.” Appl. Ocean Res. 82 (Jan): 447–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2018.10.027.
Hossain, M. S., Y. Hu, and D. Ekaputra. 2014. “Skirted foundation to mitigate spudcan punch-through on sand-over-clay.” Géotechnique 64 (4): 333–340. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.13.T.027.
Houlsby, G. T. 2011. “A probabilistic approach to the prediction of spudcan penetration of jack-up units.” In Proc., 2nd Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, 691–696. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Houlsby, G. T., and C. M. Martin. 2003. “Undrained bearing capacity factors for conical footings on clay.” Géotechnique 53 (5): 513–520. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.5.513.
Hu, P., S. A. Stanier, D. Wang, and M. J. Cassidy. 2015a. “A comparison of full profile prediction methods for a spudcan penetrating sand overlying clay.” Géotech. Lett. 5 (3): 131–139. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.15.00051.
Hu, P., S. A. Stanier, D. Wang, and M. J. Cassidy. 2016. “Effect of footing shape on penetration in sand overlying clay.” Int. J. Phys. Modell. Geotech. 16 (3): 119–133. https://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.15.00013.
Hu, P., D. Wang, M. J. Cassidy, and S. A. Stanier. 2014. “Predicting the resistance profile of a spudcan penetrating sand overlying clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 51 (10): 1151–1164. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0374.
Hu, P., D. Wang, S. A. Stanier, and M. J. Cassidy. 2015b. “Assessing the punch-through hazard of a spudcan on sand overlying clay.” Géotechnique 65 (11): 883–896. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.14.P.097.
ISO. 2012. Petroleum and natural gas industries-site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units—Part I: Jack-ups. ISO/FDIS 19905-1. Geneva, Switzerland: ISO.
Jazwinski, A. H. 1970. Stochastic processes and filtering theory. New York: Academic Press.
Kondrashov, D., C. Sun, and M. Ghil. 2008. “Data assimilation for a coupled ocean-atmosphere model. Part II: Parameter estimation.” Mon. Weather Rev. 136 (12): 5062–5076. https://doi.org/10.1175/2008MWR2544.1.
Lee, K. K., M. J. Cassidy, and M. F. Randolph. 2013a. “Bearing capacity on sand overlying clay soils: Experimental and finite-element investigation of potential punch-through failure.” Géotechnique 63 (15): 1271–1284. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.12.P.175.
Lee, K. K., M. F. Randolph, and M. J. Cassidy. 2013b. “Bearing capacity on sand overlying clay soils: A simplified conceptual model.” Géotechnique 63 (15): 1285–1297. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.12.P.176.
Li, J., P. Hu, M. Uzielli, and M. J. Cassidy. 2018. “Bayesian prediction of peak resistance of a spudcan penetrating sand-over-clay.” Géotechnique 68 (10): 905–917. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.17.P.154.
Osborne, J. J., G. T. Houlsby, K. L. Teh, B. Bienen, M. J. Cassidy, M. F. Randolph, and C. F. Leung. 2009. “Improved guidances of the prediction of geotechnical performance of spudcan foundations during installation and removal of jack-up units.” In Proc., 41st Offshore Technology Conf., OTC-20291. Richardson, TX: Offshore Technology Conference.
Qiu, G., and J. Grabe. 2012. “Numerical investigation of bearing capacity due to spudcan penetration.” Can. Geotech. J. 49 (12): 1393–1407. https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-085.
Robinson, A. R., and P. F. Lermusiaux. 2000. “Overview of data assimilation.” Harvard Rep. Phys./Interdiscip. Ocean Sci. 62: 1–13. http://robinson.seas.harvard.edu/PAPERS/red_report_62.html.
SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers). 2008. Guidelines for site specific assessment of mobile jack-up units, technical and research bulletin 5-5 and 5-5A, panes OC-7 site assessment of jack-up rigs. Alexandria, VA: SNAME.
Teh, K. L., C. F. Leung, Y. K. Chow, and M. J. Cassidy. 2010. “Centrifuge model study of spudcan penetration in sand overlying clay.” Géotechnique 60 (11): 825–842. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.8.P.077.
Teh, K. L., C. F. Leung, Y. K. Chow, and P. Handidjaja. 2009. “Prediction of punch-through for spudcan penetration in sand overlying clay.” In 41st Proc., Offshore Technology Conf., OTC-20060-MS. Richardson, TX: Offshore Technology Conference.
Ullah, S. N., and Y. Hu. 2017. “Peak punch-through capacity of spudcan in sand with interbedded clay: Numerical and analytical modeling.” Can. Geotech. J. 54 (8): 1071–1088. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0597.
Uzielli, M., M. J. Cassidy, and M. S. Hossain. 2017. “Bayesian prediction of punch-through probability for spudcans in stiff-over-soft clay.” In Vol. 286 of Geotechnical safety and reliability, 247–265. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Yang, F., J. Li, M. J. Cassidy, and P. Hu. 2017. “Probabilistic punch-through distance for a spudcan penetrating sand-over-clay.” In Vol. 286 of Proc., Geo-Risk 2017, 569–577. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Young, A. G., and J. A. Focht. 1981. “Subsurface hazards affect mobile jack-up rig operations.” Sounding 3 (2): 4–9.
Zhang, S. 2011. “Impact of observation-optimized model parameters on decadal predictions: Simulation with a simple pycnocline prediction model.” Geophys. Res. Lett. 38 (2): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL046133.
Zhang, S., Z. Liu, A. Rosati, and T. Delworth. 2012. “A study of enhancive parameter correction with coupled data assimilation for climate estimation and prediction using a simple coupled model.” Tellus A Dyn. Meteorol. Oceanogr. 64 (1): 10963. https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v64i0.10963.
Zheng, J., M. S. Hossain, and D. Wang. 2017. “Numerical investigation of spudcan penetration in multi-layer deposits with an interbedded sand layer.” Géotechnique 67 (12): 1050–1066. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.16.P.110.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146Issue 9September 2020

History

Received: Apr 30, 2019
Accepted: May 12, 2020
Published online: Jun 30, 2020
Published in print: Sep 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 30, 2020

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Ph.D. Candidate, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Geological Engineering, Ocean Univ. of China, Qingdao 266100, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1457-9140. Email: [email protected]
Professor, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Geological Engineering, Ocean Univ. of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Professor, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8524-7541. Email: [email protected]
Shaoqing Zhang [email protected]
Professor, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China; Professor, Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, MOE, and Institute for Advanced Ocean Study, Ocean Univ. of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Professor, International Laboratory for High-Resolution Earth System Model and Prediction, Qingdao 266061, China; Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean Univ. of China, Qingdao 266100, China. Email: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share