Assessing the punch-through hazard of a spudcan on sand overlying clay

Abstract

A complete analytical method to describe the full load-penetration resistance profile of a mobile jackup spudcan footing penetrating a sand over clay stratigraphy is described. It is based on both large deformation finite-element analyses and geotechnical centrifuge experiments. The coupled Eulerian– Lagrangian (CEL) approach is used to accommodate the large deformations of a spudcan footing penetrating sand overlying clay. Modified Mohr–Coulomb and Tresca models describe the sand and clay behaviour, with modifications accounting for the effects of strain softening on the response of the soil. The CEL results are shown to match centrifuge tests well, allowing the numerical study to be extend..