Inclined loading capacity of suction piles in sand

A series of centrifuge model tests have been conducted on a model suction pile embedded in sand to evaluate its inclined pull-out loading capacity. This paper describes the centrifuge model tests, the analytical solution, and comparisons between the centrifuge model test results and the analytical predictions of the pull-out capacities of the suction pile under inclined loads. The main variables of the study are the load inclination angle and the point of mooring line attachment which varies from the top to the bottom of the suction pile’s side surface. Effects of these two parameters on the suction pile inclined pull-out loading capacity are described.     

Pullout behavior of suction anchors in soft marine clays

In the field of ocean engineering, a beginning has been made in the use of large‐sized suction anchors for safe anchoring of large compliant structures. Suction anchors derive most of their uplift resistance from passive suction developed during the pullout movement. This article describes a set of laboratory tests on model suction anchors of three different embedment ratios to estimate the pullout behavior of suction anchors in soft clays typical of Indian marine clays. Tests were conducted on model anchors installed in soil beds prepared at four different consistencies in a test tank. This study shows the influence of soil consistency and embedment ratio (L/D) on the pullout behavior of suction anchors and on the variation of suction pressure at the top of the soil plug. The test results reveal that the behavior of suction anchors is much better than the behavior of open‐ended anchors from the considerations of both capacity and deformation. The consistent development of suction inside the anchor top confirms the plug formation and significant breakout resistance in the form of suction‐induced reversed end bearing. The results are further analyzed in terms of suction breakout factors. Further, the effect of burial depth of suction anchor on pullout behavior is shown.     

Model tests on installation and extraction of suction caissons in dense sand

A series of model tests were performed on steel- and Perspex-made suction caissons in saturated dense marine sand to explore installation and extraction behaviors. The extractions of the caisson were conducted by applying monotonic loading or by pumping water into the caisson. Responses of suction caissons to pullout rates, aspect ratios, and extraction manners were examined. Test results show that a cone-shaped subsidence region occurs around the suction caisson during the suction-assisted installation. The pullout bearing capacity of the suction caisson in sand is dominated by the loading rate and the loading manner. For the suction caisson subjected to monotonic loading, the maximum bearing capacity is reached at the pullout rate of about 20.0?mm/s. The mobilized vertical displacement corresponding to the pullout capacity increases with increasing the pullout rate. The passive suction beneath the suction caisson lid reaches the maximum value when the pullout bearing capacity is mobilized. In addition, during the suction caisson extracted by pumping water into the caisson, the maximum pore water pressure in the caisson is obtained under the displacement of approximately 0.04 times the caisson diameter. The absolute values of the maximum pore water pressures for the suction caissons approximately equal those of the maximum vertical resistances at the monotonic pullout rate of 5 mm/s. When the vertical displacements of the suction caissons with the aspect ratio of 1.0 and 2.0 reach 0.92 and 1.77 times the caisson diameter, respectively, the seepage failure occurs around the caissons. Using a scaling method, the test results can be used to predict the time length required for the prototype suction caisson to be extracted from the seabed.     

Evaluation of pullout load capacity of suction caissons in sand using a three-dimensional displacement approach

An investigation was conducted to obtain analytical solutions for the pullout behavior of a suction caisson undergoing inclined loads in sand. The inclined load is transformed into an equivalent load system in which the vertical, horizontal, and moment loads are applied on the center of the lid of the suction caisson. The vertical and lateral stiffness coefficients along the skirt of the suction caisson in sands are presented using the new three-dimensional elastic solutions taking into account the nonhomogeneous and nonlinear properties of the sand. The vertical, lateral, and rocking stiffness coefficients on the base of the suction caisson are presented considering the solutions of a hollow rigid cylindrical punch acting on the surface of a soil. The yield, pullout, and failure for sands with the nonhomogeneous and nonlinear characteristics are taken into consideration. The effects of the load inclination, the loading depth, and the aspect ratio on the pullout load capacity of the suction caisson are presented. Behaviour of the suction caisson in sand prior to failure is clarified from the relationship between tensile load, displacement, and rotation and that between depth, vertical pressure, and lateral pressure.     

水平荷载作用下裙式吸力基础承载性能研究

传统吸力基础是一个单桶结构,被广泛作为海洋平台、漂浮结构的基础,近年来也被推广到海上风电塔架。作为风电塔架基础,要充分提高其水平承载能力。为此,提出一种改进的基础形式—裙式吸力基础。采用Z_SOIL有限元软件,针对砂土地基,从水平单调加载和循环加载两个方面,对传统单桶吸力基础和裙式吸力基础进行了承载性能对比研究,得到了相应的荷载-位移曲线。研究结果表明,裙式吸力基础由于设置了"裙"结构,显著提高了其抵抗水平静载和循环水平动力荷载的能力,并能有效控制基础的水平位移,是值得推广应用的一种新型海洋工程基础形式。     

Experimental studies on sand plug formation in suction caisson during extraction

A series of model tests were conducted on Perspex-made suction caissons in saturated dense marine sand to study the sand plug formation during extraction. Suction caissons were extracted by pullout loading or by pumping air into the suction caisson. Effects of the pullout rates, aspect ratios and loading ways (monotonic or sustained) on the pullout capacity, and plug formation were investigated. It was found that the ultimate pullout capacity of the suction caisson increases with increasing the pullout rate. The sand plug formation under the pullout loading is significantly influenced by the pullout rate and the loading way. When the suction caisson is extracted at a relatively slow rate, the general sand boiling through the sand plug along the inner caisson wall occurs. On the contrary, the local sand boiling will occur at the bottom of the suction caisson subjected to a rapid monotonic loading or a sustained loading. Test results of the suction caisson extracted by pumping air into the caisson show that the pressure in the suction caisson almost follows a linear relationship with the upward displacement. The maximum pressures for suction caissons with aspect ratios of 1.0 and 2.0 during extraction by pumping air into the caisson are 1.70 and 2.27 times the maximum suction required to penetrate the suction caisson into sand. It was found that the sand plug moves downward during extraction by pumping air into the caisson and the variation in the sand plug height is mainly caused by the outflow of the sand particles from the inside of the suction caisson to the outside. When the suction caisson model is extracted under the pullout rate of 2?mm/s (0.28?mm/s for the prototype), the hydraulic gradient along the suction caisson wall increases to the maximum value with increasing the penetration depth and then reduces to zero. On the contrary, when extracted under the pullout rate of 10?mm/s (1.4?mm/s for the prototype), the hydraulic gradient along the suction caisson wall increases with increasing the pullout displacement. When extracted by pumping air into the caisson, the hydraulic gradient reaches the critical value, and at the same time, the seepage failure occurs around the suction caisson tip.     

Analysis of pullout load capacity of suction caissons in clay by a three-dimensional displacement approach

A study was made to present analytical solutions of pullout load capacity for a suction caisson subjected to inclined tension in clay. The inclined tension on the skirt of the suction caisson is transformed into an equivalent system comprised of the vertical, horizontal, and moment load applied on the center of the lid. The vertical and horizontal stiffness coefficients along the skirt of the suction caisson in clay are presented by three-dimensional elastic solutions considering the nonhomogeneous and nonlinear property of clay. The vertical, horizontal, and rocking stiffness coefficient of the suction caisson on the base are presented considering the solutions of a hollow rigid cylindrical punch acting on the surface of clay. The envelopes of the horizontal and vertical ultimate load capacity for clay are presented. The yield, pullout, and failure for clay are taken into consideration. The effects of load inclination, loading depth, and aspect ratio on the pullout load capacity are shown. Behavior of the suction caisson in clay up to failure is investigated using the relationship between tensile load and displacement and that between depth, vertical, and horizontal pressure.     

Loading performance of fish and OMNI-Max anchors in crust-over-soft clays

This paper reports the results from three-dimensional dynamic finite element analysis undertaken to provide insight into the behaviour of the fish and OMNI-max dynamically installed anchors during loading in crust-over-soft clay sediments. Particular attention was focused on the situations where the anchor is embedded to a shallow depth during dynamic installation due to the strong crust layer. Large deformation finite element analyses were carried out using the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian approach, incoporating the anchor chain effect. Parametric analyses were undertaken varying the initial embedment depth, anchor shape, loading angle, strength ratio between the top and bottom layers. The tracked anchor trajectory confirmed that the diving potential of the fish and OMNI-Max anchors were enhanced by the presence of the crust layer as that somewhat restircted the upward movement. This will be beneficial for many hydrocarbon active regions with layered seabed sediments where the anchor embedment depths during dynamic installation are expected to be low.     

Vertical uplift capacity of a group of shallow circular plate anchors in sand

ABSTRACT

The uplift capacity of a group of circular plate anchors buried horizontally in sand along a line has been determined. The uplift capacity of an interfering anchor is presented in terms of nondimensional uplift factors, F_γi and F_qi, due to components of soil unit weight and surcharge pressure acting on the ground surface, respectively. Theoretical solutions have been developed by applying the upper bound theorem of limit analysis based on a simple rigid wedge collapse mechanism. In the case of two and infinite number of anchors, closed-form solutions have been developed for computing the factor F_qi, whereas the factor F_γi is determined using a semianalytical approach. As expected, the interference of the anchors leads to a continuous reduction in the uplift resistance with a decrease in the spacing between the anchors, and the uplift resistance decreases with the increasing number of anchors at a given spacing. The results compare reasonably well with the available theoretical and experimental data from the literature.     

Centrifuge evaluation of the influential factors in the uplift capacity of suction foundations in clay

The passive suction of suction foundations plays a significant role in pull-out resistance. The factors influencing the uplift capacity include stress state, embedment ratio, and loading rate. This article investigates the effect of embedment ratio and loading rate on the bearing behavior of suction foundations using centrifuge testing. A series of uplift tests on a suction foundation in clay were performed using a beam centrifuge. During the tests, uplift displacement, suction, and loading rate were monitored. The suction was obtained by measurement of water pressure. To compare the influence of different factors on uplift capacity due to passive suction, two types of uplift tests were conducted; the first was on the closed caisson and the second was on the vented caisson. The results show that the pull-out resistance increased with an increase of the uplift loading rate, which was induced by the suction. The maximum resistance occurred when the upward displacements reached 14%D under a ratio of skirt length (L) to diameter (D) (L/D) of 0.5 and 17%D under an L/D ratio of 2. These findings provide a way for suction caissons to resist pull-out load or for structures to be removed from the seabed.     

Numerical analysis of suction embedded plate anchors in structured clay

As offshore energy developments move towards deeper water, moored floating production facilities are increasingly preferred to fixed structures. Anchoring systems are therefore of great interest to engineers working on deep water developments. Suction embedded plate anchors (SEPLAs) are rapidly becoming a popular solution, possessing a more accurate and predictable installation process compared to traditional alternatives. In this paper, finite element analysis has been conducted to evaluate the ultimate pullout capacity of SEPLAs in a range of post-keying configurations. Previous numerical studies of anchor pullout capacity have generally treated the soil as an elastic-perfectly plastic medium. However, the mechanical behaviour of natural clays is affected by inter-particle bonding, or structure, which cannot be accounted for using simple elasto-plastic models. Here, an advanced constitutive model formulated within the kinematic hardening framework is used to accurately predict the degradation of structure as an anchor embedded in a natural soft clay deposit is loaded to its pullout capacity. In comparison with an idealised, non-softening clay, the degradation of clay structure due to plastic strains in the soil mass results in a lower pullout capacity factor, a quantity commonly used in design, and a more complex load–displacement relationship. It can be concluded that clay structure has an important effect on the pullout behaviour of plate anchors.     

Response of skirted suction caissons to monotonic lateral loading in saturated medium sand

Monotonic lateral load model tests were carried out on steel skirted suction caissons embedded in the saturated medium sand to study the bearing capacity. A three-dimensional continuum finite element model was developed with Z_SOIL software. The numerical model was calibrated against experimental results. Soil deformation and earth pressures on skirted caissons were investigated by using the finite element model to extend the model tests. It shows that the ＂skirted＂ structure can significantly increase the lateral capacity and limit the deflection, especially suitable for offshore wind turbines, compared with regular suction caissons without the ＂skirted＂ at the same load level. In addition, appropriate determination of rotation centers plays a crucial role in calculating the lateral capacity by using the analytical method. It was also found that the rotation center is related to dimensions of skirted suction caissons and loading process, i.e. the rotation center moves upwards with the increase of the ＂skirted＂ width and length; moreover, the rotation center moves downwards with the increase of loading and keeps constant when all the sand along the caisson＇s wall yields. It is so complex that we cannot simply determine its position like the regular suction caisson commonly with a specified position to the length ratio of the caisson.     

Analysis Procedure of the Cyclic Bearing Capacity for Suction Anchors in Soft Clays

This article presents a procedure to calculate the bearing capacity of suction anchors subjected to inclined average and cyclic loads at the optimal load attachment point using the undrained cyclic shear strength of soft clays based on the failure model of anchors proposed by Andersen et al. The constant average shear stress of each failure zone around an anchor is assumed and determined based on the static equilibrium condition for the procedure. The cyclic shear strength of each failure zone is determined based on the average shear stress. The cyclic bearing capacity is finally determined by limiting equilibrium analyses. Thirty-six model tests of suction anchors subjected to inclined average and cyclic loads were conducted, which include vertical and lateral failure modes. Model test results were predicted using the procedure to verify its feasibility. The average relative error between predicted and test results is 1.7%, which shows that the procedure can be used to calculate the cyclic bearing capacity of anchors with optimal loading. Test results also showed that the anchor was still in vertical failure mode under combined average and cyclic loads if an anchor was in vertical failure mode under static loads. The anchor failure would depend on the vertical resistance degradation under cyclic loads if an anchor was in lateral failure mode under static loads. Cyclic bearing capacities associated with the number of load cycles to failure of 1000 were about 75% and 80% of the static bearing capacity for vertical failure anchors and lateral failure anchors, respectively.     

非共轴本构模型在吸力桶地基承载力

土体在剪切变形过程中产生主应力方向的旋转时,主应变率方向与主应力方向之间存在着非共轴现象,然而,传统的弹塑性本构模型并不能考虑该现象的影响。通过在传统本构模型屈服面的切线方向增加一项非共轴塑性应变率,即可实现对非共轴现象的反映。利用有限元软件ABAQUS的材料子程序接口UMAT,通过显式积分算法和自动分步方法实现了非共轴模型在有限元分析中的应用。首先,对砂土的单剪试验进行数值模拟,预测了主应力方向和主应变率方向之间的关系,所得结论与试验结果较为吻合。然后,针对吸力桶与砂质地基间的相互作用问题进行弹塑性有限元计算,分析了土体主应力方向在剪切变形过程中的旋转规律,以及桶体的端部阻力、侧壁摩擦阻力和顶部阻力在变形过程中的变化规律。最后,检验了非共轴现象对地基承载力计算结果的影响。研究结果表明,所开发的非共轴模型对非共轴现象具有良好的预测能力。     

离岸裙式吸力基础在砂土地基中沉贯性研究

吸力基础是海洋工程中新型的一种基础型式,广泛应用于海洋平台、海洋浮动式结构等,近年来,也被作为浅海离岸风力发电工程的基础。吸力基础易遭受较大的水平动力荷载和弯矩,从而可能产生较大水平位移和转角;同时,由于海床冲刷,会降低其承载能力。为克服这些不足,提出了一种新型吸力基础———裙式吸力基础,把分析传统吸力基础砂土中的沉贯方法,拓广到裙式吸力基础中,研究该基础型式在砂土中的可沉贯性以及所需的吸力;并与同情况下的传统吸力基础进行了比较,证明了所提出的裙式吸力基础具有较好的沉贯性能,具有工程实践推广价值。     

基于边界面模型的砂土中板锚循环承载力数值分析

利用带误差控制的显式积分算法,将一种适用于饱和砂土排水循环动力分析的边界面塑性模型编写成可供有限元软件调用的用户自定义材料子程序。建立土体单元有限元数值模型对Toyoura砂的静、动排水三轴试验进行模拟,验证了模型具备合理描述砂土在不同荷载条件下力学响应的能力。建立饱和砂土中板锚循环承载分析的数值模型,针对板锚在砂土中的单调抗拔特性和循环承载特性进行数值分析,得到了与模型试验一致的荷载—位移响应规律。考察循环荷载要素对板锚循环承载特性的影响,结果发现,随着循环荷载的施加,板锚永久位移逐渐累积,循环荷载会导致板锚持续移动,循环幅值越大,初始位移和位移变化率越大;循环均值越大,初始位移越大,但位移变化率越小。     

Investigation of scour effect on tensile capacity of suction caissons considering stress history of sand

Abstract

Since the pull-out response of upwind caissons governs the design of multi-caisson foundations, it is worthwhile to study scour effect on the tensile capacity of suction caissons. The tensile capacity of suction caissons after scour is relevant to the scour depth and the pressure under the caisson lid: the tensile capacity decreases dramatically with increasing scour depth; the smaller the pressure, the stronger the weakening effect of scour. Moreover, the scour effect is investigated in two cases: ignoring stress history and considering stress history. The results show that tensile capacity after scour is larger when the stress history is considered, so ignoring the stress history leads to a conservative design. In order to quantitatively evaluate the effect of scour depth and pressure, an empirical formula for the tensile capacity of suction caissons after scour is proposed based on multiple regression analysis.     

黏土中隔舱吸力式钢圆筒安装及水平受荷试验研究

近年来大直径钢圆筒结构在离岸人工岛工程中得到应用,如港珠澳大桥人工岛即采用振动下沉的方式安装钢圆筒,该方法对施工条件、装备以及施工控制技术要求较高。提出一种新型隔舱吸力式钢圆筒结构,在钢圆筒内部设置隔舱板,将结构分为上下两个隔舱,通过对下舱抽气实现隔舱吸力式钢圆筒在负压作用下的下沉安装。设计了隔舱吸力式钢圆筒安装及水平承载力模型试验,对比了负压贯入的隔舱吸力式钢圆筒和压力贯入的传统钢圆筒结构的贯入阻力及承载特性,分析了改变隔舱吸力式钢圆筒上下舱高度比L₁/L₂对其沉贯过程及承载特性的影响。结果表明,采用负压吸力沉贯的隔舱吸力式钢圆筒相比于采用压力贯入的传统钢圆筒结构的贯入阻力减小,水平极限承载力提高。在极限水平荷载作用下,随着隔舱吸力式钢圆筒的L₁/L₂从2.28减小到1.00、0.56,转动中心位置上移,水平极限承载力及弯矩承载力得到显著提高。     

Failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles in soils with cohesive and cohesionless properties

Abstract

The present work develops a theoretical model based on a rational mechanical model and the failure mechanism of anchor piles in the seabed, by which the failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles under inclined loading can be predicted in the soils with both cohesive and cohesionless properties. Experimental and numerical results are employed to validate the theoretical predictions. Parametric studies are performed to investigate the effects of different parameters on the failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles, to demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of the theoretical model and to gain further knowledge of the anchor properties. An analytical method is also proposed to evaluate the optimal position of the attachment point of anchor piles, and confirmed by relevant studies in either cohesive or cohesionless soils.

1. Highlights

2. A novel theoretical model is proposed to analyze the failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles.

3. The model is applied to inclined loading and to soils with both cohesive and cohesionless properties.

4. Efficiency and applicability of the model are validated through comparative and parametric studies.

5. A simple expression is proposed to predict the optimal position of the attachment point for anchor piles.