Random finite element method for spudcan foundations in spatially variable soils

Abstract

Spudcans are large diameter (~. 20 m) conical foundations holding up mobile jack-up platforms for offshore oil and gas developments in shallow to moderate water depths. During self-installation the spudcan often penetrates several tens of meters into seabed soils, where large variations often occur in the shear strength of the soils. Although the failure mechanisms and bearing capacity of spudcan foundations have been studied in homogeneous soil and layered uniform soil, the effect of the spatial variability in soil strength on the spudcan response is still unclear. This study presents a random finite element method (RFEM) for assessing the failure mechanisms and the bearing capacity of a sp..