Evaluation of horizontal and vertical bearing capacities of offshore bucket work platforms in sand. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vicent, Ssenyondo; Kim, Sung-Ryul; Hung, Le Chi
• Is Part Of: Applied ocean research. Volume 101(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Bucket work platform -- Finite element analysis -- Horizontal capacity -- Vertical capacity -- Sand; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; 620.416205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apor.2020.102198
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1187

Abstract

Highlights: Three-dimensional finite element analyses were performed varying diameter and embedment depth. Horizontal and vertical bearing capacities were investigated in loose, medium and dense sands. Skirt and end bearing resistances of the bucket platform were analysed. Simple evaluation methods for the horizontal and vertical bearing capacity were developed. Abstract: A series of three-dimensional finite element analyses was performed to evaluate the horizontal and vertical bearing capacities of bucket work plat forms in loose, medium, and dense sands. The study targeted bucket work platforms with diameters of 20 and 30 m and embedment ratios, d/D, of 0.3 to 1.0 ( d = embedment depth, D = bucket diameter). The sandy soil was modeled following the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, and the Young's modulus value increased with the depth. The horizontal and vertical bearing capacities increased with the bucket displacement and embedment depth. At D = 20 and 30 m, the horizontal bearing capacity ( H 0 ) in dense sand was 1.6 times larger than H 0 in medium dense sand. H 0 in medium dense sand was approximately 1.8 times larger than H 0 in loose sand. The H 0 at D = 30 m was 3.4 times larger than that at D = 20 m for the loose to dense sands. The vertical bearing capacity, V b, in dense sand was approximately 1.5 and 2 times larger than the V b in medium dense and loose sands, respectively. When the bucket diameter increased from D = 20 to 30 m, the V b was 3 times larger than that at D = 20 m. Finally, equations were proposed to evaluate the horizontal and vertical bearing capacities of bucket work platforms.