In this paper we study the tensile capacity of caisson foundations of OWT in dense sands, where the generation of excess pore pressure is analyzed. The tensile capacity of suction buckets under various loading rates is investigated using a series of quasi-static axisymmetric finite element analyses with coupled flow-deformation formulation. DeltaSand model is utilized for the soil, which is an elasto-plastic state-dependent model capturing the response of sands at varying relative densities. Numerical results are validated with available test data of scaled physical model experiments. Particular emphasis is placed on the interaction between suction-bucket and the soil. Parameters governing the soil-caisson interface playing a key role in the uplift response are identified.
To access this article:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.115155