Evaluating calculation methods for suction-assisted installation techniques in dense sand: A comparative study

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4. Evaluating calculation methods for suction-assisted installation techniques in dense sand: A comparative study

The use of suction caissons as a foundation for offshore wind energy converters is increasing due to their low-noise installation, reduced installation time and adaptability to a wide range of site conditions. As the size of support structures for modern, high-capacity turbines increases, so does the required size for their foundations, which is challenging for cost-effective design. The suction installation process contributes to overcome soil penetration resistances. Nevertheless, unforeseen events such as interrupting installation due to technical issues or penetration refusal due to challenging soil conditions, may demand contingency measures to achieve the desired embedded depth. Their impact on both the installation procedure and the caisson's bearing capacity demands further detailed investigations. To explore these effects, geotechnical tests at various scales have been conducted as part of the ProBucket research project. This paper presents and analyses the results of suction installation tests of a fully instrumented suction caisson in homogeneous sand. The installations involved a test specimen with a diameter of 1.60 m and a skirt length of 1.42 m, which was installed a.) continuously, b.) with downtime, and c.) with pressure cycles. By comparing the experimental installation curves with predictive calculations, the suitability of established calculation methods for suction assisted installation in sand is assessed. The findings indicate that current methods for estimating suction pressure require further evaluation, especially for cases with varying penetration rates or alternative installation techniques. Based on these findings, recommenda-tions for future work are given.
 

5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG2025)

11 - Suction installed foundations and anchors