A plastic limit formulation was previously developed for estimating caisson uplift in cohesive soils under general conditions of vertical, horizontal, and inclined loading. The formulation considers the effects of soil shear strength profile, caisson aspect ratio, anchor line attachment depth, and load inclination angle. Load capacity predictions from the plastic limit analyses are compared to data measured in seven centrifuge tests in which model caissons are subjected to purely vertical and inclined loads of various orientations. The effect of a bevel at the caisson tip is also investigated. Comparisons are also made to finite element predictions.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
structural engineering, underwater equipment, mechanical testing, mechanical strength, plasticity, soil, shear deformation, rheology, Suction Caissons, Centrifuge Testing, Plasticity Model, Interaction Mechanisms
Topics:
Caissons, Plasticity, Soil, Stress, Suction, Finite element analysis
1.
Clukey, E. C., and Phillips, R., 2002, “Centrifuge Model Tests to Verify Suction Caisson Capacities for Taut and Semi-Taut Legged Mooring Systems,” Proceedings of the Deep Offshore Technology Conference, New Orleans.
2.
Andersen, K. H., and Jostad, H. P., 2002, “Shear Strength Along Outside Wall of Suction Anchors in Clay After Installation,” Proceedings of the 12th ISOPE Conference, Kyashu, Japan, Paper No. 2002PCW-02.
3.
Aubeny
,
C. P.
,
Han
,
S. W.
, and
Murff
,
J. D.
,
2003
, “
Inclined Load Capacity of Suction Caissons
,”
Int. J. Numer. Analyt. Meth. Geomech.
,
27
, pp.
1235
–
1254
.
4.
Schofield
,
A. N.
,
1980
, “
Cambridge Geotechnical Centrifuge Operations
,”
Geotechnique
,
20
, pp.
227
–
268
.
5.
Murff, J. D., 1996, “The Geotechnical Centrifuge in Offshore Engineering,” OTRC Honors Lecturer, Proceedings of Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 8265, Houston, May, pp. 675–689.
6.
Murff
,
J. D.
, and
Hamilton
,
J. M.
,
1993
, “
P-Ultimate for Undrained Analysis of Laterally Loaded Piles,” American Society of Civil Engineers
,
J. Geotech. Eng.
119
, pp.
91
–
107
.
7.
Bransby
,
M. F.
, and
Randolph
,
M. F.
,
1998
, “
Combined Loading of Skirted Foundations
,”
Geotechnique
,
48
, pp.
637
–
655
.
8.
Aubeny, C. P., Han, S. W., and Murff, J. D., 2003, “Refined Model for Inclined Load Capacity of Suction Caissons,” 22nd International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, Paper No. 37503, Cancun.
9.
Audibert, J. M. E., Clukey, E. C., and Huang, J., 2003, “Suction Caisson Installation at Horn Mountain—A Case Study,” 13th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Honolulu.
Copyright © 2004
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.