Numerical Investigation Into Parameters Influencing the Installation of Suction Caissons in Sand

Abstract

This paper reports results from a numerical investigation into the suction caissons penetration in sand. Two dimensional axisymmetric models have first been calibrated and verified against several laboratory and field test data from other researchers. Soil nonlinearities and soil/caisson interactions have been taken into account. The verified models have then been used to evaluate the effects from various soil/structure characteristics on the performance of the suction caissons during the installation phase in sand. The results of the current study show that the total installation force required for the full penetration of the caisson has a second order relationship with the soil/caisson interface strength reduction factor. The soil cohesion has also been found to have a second order effect on the total installation force. The soil internal friction angle, and the soil modulus of elasticity have each been noticed to present an increasing linear effect on the total installation force. It has also been observed that while the caisson diameter remains constant, with an increase in the caisson length the total installation force almost linearly increases. This is the same when the caisson length is kept constant but its diameter increases. Dilatancy angle and Poisson’s ratio have been realized to have a second order monotically increasing effect on the total installation force.