Predicting the resistance profile of a spudcan penetrating sand overlying clay

Abstract

Assessment of the risk of punch-through failure of spudcan foundations on sand overlying clay requires prediction of the full penetration resistance profile, from touchdown and through punch-through to equilibrium of the vertical resistance at depth in the underlying clay layer. This study uses the Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach, a large deformation finite element analysis method, to model the complete penetration resistance profile of a spudcan on sand overlying clay. The sand is modeled using the Mohr–Coulomb model, while the clay is modeled using a modified Tresca model to account for strain softening. The numerical method is then used to simulate a series of spudcan penetration tes..