Journal article
Bearing capacity on sand overlying clay soils: Experimental and finite-element investigation of potential punch-through failure
KK Lee, MJ Cassidy, MF Randolph
Geotechnique | ICE PUBLISHING | Published : 2013
Abstract
When a jack-up spudcan foundation is installed on seabeds consisting of a sand layer overlying soft clay, the potential for 'punch-through' failure exists. This happens as a result of an abrupt reduction in bearing resistance when the foundation punches a block of sand into the underlying soft clay in an uncontrolled manner. This paper details an extensive series of 30 tests of flat circular and spudcan foundations continuously penetrated through samples of sand overlying clay, and performed under relevant stress conditions using a drum centrifuge. The large testing area of the drum centrifuge was used advantageously to produce test results that could be compared directly with tests covering..
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Awarded by Australian Research Council through the ARC Linkage grant scheme
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
The research presented here was supported by the Australian Research Council through the ARC Linkage grant scheme (Project LP0561838) and by industry partner Keppel Offshore and Maritime Limited. This work forms part of the activities of the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering at UWA. The authors acknowledge extensive support through the ARC's Federation and Future Fellowships, Discovery and Linkage programmes. The second author holds the Chair of Offshore Foundations from the Lloyd's Register Foundation. The Lloyd's Register Foundation supports the advancement of engineering-related education, and funds research and development that enhances the safety of life at sea, on land and in the air. All this support is gratefully acknowledged.