Suction Caissons as Multipod OWT Foundations in Clay: Investigation of Loading Rate Effects

Abstract

The paper elaborates on the bearing mechanics of suction caissons serving as the foundation system of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) supported on jacket structures. As axial loading governs foundation design in this configuration, the study proceeds to a numerical investigation of the tensile load carrying capacity of a suction caisson in clay through a series of coupled pore fluid diffusion — effective stress analyses with a hypoplastic constitutive model. The latter allows for the quantification of loading rate effects on the amount of negative excess pore pressures (passive suction) generated within the confined soil plug and their contribution to uplift caisson resistance. Based on these results, a simplified uncoupled procedure is employed to account for loading rate effects in the performance-based design of an 8MW OWT founded on a Suction Bucket Jacket (SBJ).