Characteristic Test Study on Bearing Capacity of Suction Caisson Foundation Under Vertical Load

Abstract

Suction caisson foundations are often subjected to vertical uplift loads, but there are still no wide and spread engineering specifications on design and calculation method for uplift bearing capacity of suction caisson foundation. So it is important to establish an uplift failure criterion. In order to study the uplift bearing mechanism and failure mode of suction caisson foundation, a series of model tests were carried out considering the effects of aspect ratio, soil permeability and loading mode. Test results indicate that the residual negative pressure at the top of caisson is beneficial to enhance uplift bearing capacity. The smaller the permeability coefficient is, the higher the residual negative pressure will be. And the residual negative pressure is approximately equal to the water head that causes seepage in the caisson. When the load reaches the ultimate bearing capacity, both the top and bottom negative pressures are smaller than Su and both the top and bottom reverse bearing capacity factors are smaller than 1.0 in soft clay. Combined the uplift bearing characteristics of caisson in sandy soil and soft clay, the bearing capacity composition and the calculation method are proposed. It can provide a reference for the engineering design of suction caisson foundation under vertical load.