Centrifuge tests exploring the cyclic performance of suction bucket foundations in cohensionless soils

Senthen Mani, Francisco da Silva Pereira, Phil Watson, Britta Bienen, Fraser Bransby, Han Eng Low, Carl Erbrich, Sam Ingarfield, Avi Shonberg, Michael Harte

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paperConference paperpeer-review

Abstract

An alternate to monopiles to support offshore wind turbines is the use of jacket structures founded on suction buckets. These foundations have been successfully deployed in recent developments in the North Sea (and elsewhere). Suction buckets have been proven to be a viable foundation concept due to the relatively fast and low-noise installation, as well as their general applicability for a wide range of soil-conditions and their suitability to deeper waters. However, the behaviour of bucket foundations subject to both long and short term uplift loading in coarse grained soil remains an area of ongoing research. For the centrifuge testing in this project, soil was provided from an Asian offshore site – and the combination of silt size particles, water pore fluid and faster loading rates was used to replicate the drainage conditions during the loading of a full-scale bucket foundation in sand. Initial self-weight penetration of the skirts was followed by suction installation, with in-place testing then undertaken to explore both monotonic and cyclic performance. This paper presents selected results from the testing, including the foundation response to cyclic (storm) loading applied symmetrically around average vertical loads close to zero.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAsian Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (Asiafuge-2021)
Subtitle of host publication18-19 November 2021, Singapore
PublisherAsian Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (Asiafuge)
Pages38-48
Number of pages11
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Event3rd Asian Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics - , Virtual
Duration: 18 Nov 202119 Nov 2021

Conference

Conference3rd Asian Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics
Abbreviated titleAsiafuge
Country/TerritoryVirtual
Period18/11/2119/11/21

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