Numerical investigation of novel spudcan shapes for easing spudcan-footprint interactions

Abstract

This paper reports a measure for easing spudcan-footprint interactions when a jack-up rig needs to be installed near existing jackup footprints. Two novel spudcan shapes, a skirted spudcan with four rectangular holes and a skirted spudcan with six circular holes and sloped bottom profile, were investigated using 3D large deformation finite-element (LDFE) analyses. The LDFE analyses were performed using the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach in the commercial finite-element package ABAQUS. After displaying the validity of the analyses against existing LDFE results and centrifuge test data, the efficiencies of the novel spudcans were studied against a generic spudcan shape, including t..