Options
Controlled installation of spudcan foundations on loose sand overlying weak clay
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2011-07-25
Sprache
English
Author(s)
Institut
Journal
Volume
24
Issue
4
Start Page
528
End Page
550
Citation
Marine Structures 24 (4): 528-550 (2011)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
Elsevier Science
Offshore jack-up rigs are often used for site exploration and oil well drilling. The footings of jack-up rigs are known as spudcan foundations. The risk of rapid uncontrolled penetration of spudcan in seabed (" punch-through") exposes jack-ups to significant risk during installation in strong over weak layered seabeds. An example for this is a thin loose sand layer overlying a weaker stratum of clay. To prevent spudcans from "punch-through" , an in-situ measurement concept is suggested in this paper to control the installation process of spudcan foundations. First, three-dimensional finite element studies using a Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian method are carried out to simulate the penetration process. The numerical results have been validated with existing analytical solutions and centrifuge model test data. Furthermore, parametric studies are carried out to quantify the influences of the sand thickness and shear strength of the clay on the bearing capacity of spudcans. Based on the numerical studies an idea for the development of an in-situ measurement concept is suggested to control the spudcan penetration process in-situ.
Subjects
Bearing capacity
Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian
Foundations
In-situ measurement
Jack-up
Soil-structure interaction
Spudcan
DDC Class
550: Geowissenschaften
600: Technik
620: Ingenieurwissenschaften
690: Hausbau, Bauhandwerk