Development of a force–resultant model for spudcan footings on loose sand under combined loads

Abstract

Spudcans are typical foundations used in shallow to moderate-depth water oil and gas fields to support jack-up drilling units. Understanding the behaviour of spudcans under combined loadings is crucial to the overall response of the jack-up structure. This paper presents the development of a strain-hardening plasticity model for a spudcan footing on loose sand. Most of the model components are developed from direct centrifuge observations. The centrifuge tests were performed at an acceleration of 100 times that of the Earth’s gravity on a model spudcan footing subjected to combined vertical, horizontal, and moment loads. All the experiments have been designed and conducted to allow the results to be interpreted with a strain-hardening plasticity framework. Combined loads were applied by using a novel apparatus, which enables independent vertical, horizontal, and rotational movements of the footing. Test results also revealed the existence of a three dimensional sliding surface that intersects with the conventional yield surface. This additional surface has been defined analytically. Retrospective simulation of the experimental data using the plasticity model confirms the model’s capability for use in predicting the behaviour of larger spudcan applications offshore.