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 develop...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.展开更多
Suction caissons are widely used to support offshore fixed platforms in coastal areas. The loadings transferred to suction caissons include the eccentric lateral force induced by waves and self weight of the platform ...Suction caissons are widely used to support offshore fixed platforms in coastal areas. The loadings transferred to suction caissons include the eccentric lateral force induced by waves and self weight of the platform structure. However, under this kind of combined loading conditions, the failure mechanism of caissons with shallow embedment depths is quite different from conventional deep foundations or onshore shallow footings. The behaviour of caissons subjected to combined loadings may be described with the ＂failure locus＂ in force resultant spaces. Here the failure loci of smooth caissons are studied by use of finite dement approach, with the embedment ratio of caissons varying in the range of 0.25 - 1.0 and eccentricity ratio of horizontal loadiugs in 0 - 10. The platform settlement and tilt limits are involved into determination of failure loci, thus the platforms can avoid significant displacements for the combined loadings located inside the failure locus. Three families of loading paths are used to map out the locus. It is found that the shape of failure loci depends on 3 non-dimensional parameters, and the failure locus of a given caisson changes gradually from the elliptical curve to hooked curve with increasing shear strength of soil. The lateral capacity of short caissons may be enhanced by vertical forces, compared with the maximum lateral capacity of long caissons occurring at the vertical force being zero. The critical embedment ratios partitioning elliptical and hooked loci are proposed.展开更多
The complexity of geotechnical engineering and variability in construction circumstances of large extra caissons make the problem of maintaining appropriate sink attitude quite difficult, especially in keeping sink un...The complexity of geotechnical engineering and variability in construction circumstances of large extra caissons make the problem of maintaining appropriate sink attitude quite difficult, especially in keeping sink uniformity and achieving the expected final sink depth. A new construction control method is presented using ∞H theory, considering uncertainties in the mechanics model and external noise in the construction site parameters. The design method of an ∞H controller has consequently been obtained for large extra caissons. Control results using only constructor experiences are compared with simulation results using the ∞ H controller for a practical engineering situation, which indicates that the ∞H controller is successful in maintaining sink uniformity, avoiding sink as well as in achieving the expected final sink depth.展开更多
In this study, hydraulic model tests are carried out to investigate the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caisson breakwaters for non-impulsive waves. Based on the experimental data, the mean overtopping discha...In this study, hydraulic model tests are carried out to investigate the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caisson breakwaters for non-impulsive waves. Based on the experimental data, the mean overtopping discharges of perforated and nonperforated caissons are compared. It is found that when the relative crest freeboard is smaller than 1.6, the mean overtopping discharge of a breakwater can be reduced by at least half by using perforated caissons with 35% porosity instead of nonperforated caissons. The effects of the relative crest freeboard, the caisson porosity and perforation shape, the relative wave chamber width and the relative water depth on the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caissons are clarified. Then,predictive formulas for the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caissons are developed. The predictive formulas based on the experimental data are valid in a wide range of the relative crest freeboard and involve the effects of the caisson porosity and the relative water depth. The predictive formulas developed in this study are of significance for the hydraulic design of perforated caissons.展开更多
This paper presents failure mechanisms of the soil at the caisson-tip with fillet during suction-assisted penetration of suction caissons in undrained clay.Theoretical solutions of resistance factor N_c of the caisson...This paper presents failure mechanisms of the soil at the caisson-tip with fillet during suction-assisted penetration of suction caissons in undrained clay.Theoretical solutions of resistance factor N_c of the caisson-tip are obtained in terms of the caisson-tip geometry ratio of the flat section of the caisson-tip to the caisson wall thickness m/t and adhesion factorsα_i along inside of caisson wall andα_b at the base of the caisson-tip.It is indicated that the factor N_c increases with the increase of m/t,α_i and a_b.The resistance factors N_c for the rough base(α_b=1)are larger by 0.57than that for the smooth base(α_b=0).Besides,the factors N_c of caisson-tip with flat base(m=t)are larger by 1.14 than that with full internal fillet(m=0).The required suction to penetrate suction caissons with various fillets is obtained in terms of the force equilibrium in vertical direction.The finite element limit analysis and centrifuge model test results are used to verify the rationality of the presented failure mechanisms and theoretical predictions.展开更多
This paper studies the viscid and inviscid fluid resonance in gaps of bottom mounted caissons onthe basis of the plane wave hypothesis and full wave model, The theoretical analysis and the numerical results demonstrat...This paper studies the viscid and inviscid fluid resonance in gaps of bottom mounted caissons onthe basis of the plane wave hypothesis and full wave model, The theoretical analysis and the numerical results demonstrate that the condition for the appearance of fluid resonance in narrow gaps is kh=（2n＋1）π （n=0, 1, 2, 3 ）, rather than kh=nn （n=0, 1, 2, 3, ...）; the transmission peaks in viscid fluid are related to the resonance peaks in the gaps. k and h stand for the wave number and the gap length. The combination of the plane wave hypothesis or the full wave model with the local viscosity model can accurately determine the heights and the locations of the resonance peaks. The upper bound for the appearance of fluid resonance in gaps is 2b/L〈l （2b, grating constant; L, wave length） and the lower bound is h/b〈~ l. The main reason for the phase shift of the resonance peaks is the inductive factors. The number of resonance peaks in the spectrum curve is dependent on the ratio of the gap length to the grating constant. The heights and the positions of the resonance peaks predicted by the present models agree well with the experimental data.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51078227)Shandong Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.ZR2009FM003)
文摘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.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.50309001)
文摘Suction caissons are widely used to support offshore fixed platforms in coastal areas. The loadings transferred to suction caissons include the eccentric lateral force induced by waves and self weight of the platform structure. However, under this kind of combined loading conditions, the failure mechanism of caissons with shallow embedment depths is quite different from conventional deep foundations or onshore shallow footings. The behaviour of caissons subjected to combined loadings may be described with the ＂failure locus＂ in force resultant spaces. Here the failure loci of smooth caissons are studied by use of finite dement approach, with the embedment ratio of caissons varying in the range of 0.25 - 1.0 and eccentricity ratio of horizontal loadiugs in 0 - 10. The platform settlement and tilt limits are involved into determination of failure loci, thus the platforms can avoid significant displacements for the combined loadings located inside the failure locus. Three families of loading paths are used to map out the locus. It is found that the shape of failure loci depends on 3 non-dimensional parameters, and the failure locus of a given caisson changes gradually from the elliptical curve to hooked curve with increasing shear strength of soil. The lateral capacity of short caissons may be enhanced by vertical forces, compared with the maximum lateral capacity of long caissons occurring at the vertical force being zero. The critical embedment ratios partitioning elliptical and hooked loci are proposed.
文摘The complexity of geotechnical engineering and variability in construction circumstances of large extra caissons make the problem of maintaining appropriate sink attitude quite difficult, especially in keeping sink uniformity and achieving the expected final sink depth. A new construction control method is presented using ∞H theory, considering uncertainties in the mechanics model and external noise in the construction site parameters. The design method of an ∞H controller has consequently been obtained for large extra caissons. Control results using only constructor experiences are compared with simulation results using the ∞ H controller for a practical engineering situation, which indicates that the ∞H controller is successful in maintaining sink uniformity, avoiding sink as well as in achieving the expected final sink depth.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51322903&51725903)
文摘In this study, hydraulic model tests are carried out to investigate the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caisson breakwaters for non-impulsive waves. Based on the experimental data, the mean overtopping discharges of perforated and nonperforated caissons are compared. It is found that when the relative crest freeboard is smaller than 1.6, the mean overtopping discharge of a breakwater can be reduced by at least half by using perforated caissons with 35% porosity instead of nonperforated caissons. The effects of the relative crest freeboard, the caisson porosity and perforation shape, the relative wave chamber width and the relative water depth on the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caissons are clarified. Then,predictive formulas for the mean overtopping discharge at perforated caissons are developed. The predictive formulas based on the experimental data are valid in a wide range of the relative crest freeboard and involve the effects of the caisson porosity and the relative water depth. The predictive formulas developed in this study are of significance for the hydraulic design of perforated caissons.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.51879044)the Youth Foundation of Shandong Natural Science Foundation (Grant No.ZR2020QE258)+1 种基金Qingdao Postdoctoral Applied Research Project (Grant No.ZX20220202)SDUST Research Fund (Grant No.2015KYJH104)。
文摘This paper presents failure mechanisms of the soil at the caisson-tip with fillet during suction-assisted penetration of suction caissons in undrained clay.Theoretical solutions of resistance factor N_c of the caisson-tip are obtained in terms of the caisson-tip geometry ratio of the flat section of the caisson-tip to the caisson wall thickness m/t and adhesion factorsα_i along inside of caisson wall andα_b at the base of the caisson-tip.It is indicated that the factor N_c increases with the increase of m/t,α_i and a_b.The resistance factors N_c for the rough base(α_b=1)are larger by 0.57than that for the smooth base(α_b=0).Besides,the factors N_c of caisson-tip with flat base(m=t)are larger by 1.14 than that with full internal fillet(m=0).The required suction to penetrate suction caissons with various fillets is obtained in terms of the force equilibrium in vertical direction.The finite element limit analysis and centrifuge model test results are used to verify the rationality of the presented failure mechanisms and theoretical predictions.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFC0405402)
文摘This paper studies the viscid and inviscid fluid resonance in gaps of bottom mounted caissons onthe basis of the plane wave hypothesis and full wave model, The theoretical analysis and the numerical results demonstrate that the condition for the appearance of fluid resonance in narrow gaps is kh=（2n＋1）π （n=0, 1, 2, 3 ）, rather than kh=nn （n=0, 1, 2, 3, ...）; the transmission peaks in viscid fluid are related to the resonance peaks in the gaps. k and h stand for the wave number and the gap length. The combination of the plane wave hypothesis or the full wave model with the local viscosity model can accurately determine the heights and the locations of the resonance peaks. The upper bound for the appearance of fluid resonance in gaps is 2b/L〈l （2b, grating constant; L, wave length） and the lower bound is h/b〈~ l. The main reason for the phase shift of the resonance peaks is the inductive factors. The number of resonance peaks in the spectrum curve is dependent on the ratio of the gap length to the grating constant. The heights and the positions of the resonance peaks predicted by the present models agree well with the experimental data.
