Centrifuge Model Tests on Effects of Spudcan Penetration on Adjacent Loaded Piles

Abstract

Abstract It is very important for designers of offshore platforms to understand affecting mechanism of mobile jack-up spudcan penetration and extraction on adjacent loaded piles. Existing centrifuge model tests are on effects of spudcan penetration on adjacent unloaded piles. In engineering, offshore platform piles are subjected to lateral and vertical pile head loads before spudcan penetration. In order to understand affecting mechanism of spudcan penetration on adjacent loaded piles, centrifuge model tests were conducted under 50g condition. Model test strata are the saturated soft clay and the fine sand and the model pile head constraint is free. Spudcan penetration resistances, lateral earth pressures along pile shaft, lateral pile deflection, vertical pile displacement, bending moments and axial forces along pile shaft are measured during spudcan penetration and after extraction. Effects of spudcan penetration on the pile-soil interaction p-y relationship and the bearing capacity of piles are analyzed based on model test results. Results show that the lateral soil resistance affected by spudcan penetration decreases due to soil movement. The lateral deflection of loaded pile obviously increases, the side frictional resistance decreases and the end resistance increases during spudcan penetration. The spudcan penetration-induced incremental pile response does not disappear after spudcan extraction. These results are helpful for understanding the effect mechanism of spudcan penetration and extraction on adjacent loaded piles.