Abstract
A series of centrifugal tests were conducted to evaluate the maximum horizontal pullout capacity of a suction pile embedded in sand by varying the diameter and the length of the pile. The loading point was located at 75% of the pile length from the top, and the results were compared with the prediction equations of suction piles. As a result, it is found that the horizontal pullout capacity of a suction pile is proportional to its diameter and the square of length. The equation derived from Rankine’s passive earth pressure equation predicts the test results very well. When pulling out the test pile from the left the test pile was apt to rotate clockwise, and its rotational point at the maximum pullout capacity was found to be in the upper part of the pile. In addition, on the basis of the center of the suction pile, the vertical displacements for all the cases appeared to develop toward the ground surface.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allersma, H. G. B., Kirstein, A. A., and Brinkgreve, R. B. J. (1999). “Centrifuge and numerical modeling of methods to optimize the horizontal bearing capacity of suction piles.” Int. Conf. on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, OMAE99/OFT-4205.
API RP-2A (2000). Recommended practice for planning, designing and constructing fixed offshore platforms, American Petroleum Institute, USA.
Bang, S. and Cho, Y. (2002). “Ultimate horizontal loading capacity of suction piles.” Int. Journal of Offshore and Polar Engineering, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 56–63.
Bang, S., Cho, Y., and Park, W. S. (2006). “A new breakwater system with suction piles: The use of suction piles for the foundation of a new gravity-type concrete caisson breakwater system.” Sea Technology, Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 15–21.
Bang, S., T. Preber, Cho, Y., Thomason, J., Karnoski, S. R., and Taylor R. J. (2000). “Suction piles for mooring of mobile offshore bases.” Journal of Marine Structures, Vol. 13, pp. 367–382.
Broms, B. (1964). “Lateral resistance of piles in cohesive soils.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 90, No. 4, pp. 27–63.
Cho, I. H., Kwag, D. J., Bang, S., and Cho, Y. (2008). “Use of suction piles for temporary mooring of immersed tunnel elements.” 18th Int. Offshore and Polar Eng. Conf. & Exhibition, Vancouver, BC, Canada, July, Vol. 2, pp. 665–669.
FHWA (1999). “Geotechnical engineering circular No. 4 — Ground anchors and anchored systems.” Federal Highway Administration, Publication No. FHWA-IF-99-015, pp. B1–B10.
Hogervorst, J. R. (1980). “Field trials with large diameter suction piles.” Proceedings of the Offshore Technology Conference OTC 3817, pp. 217–224.
Keaveny, J. V., Hansen, S. B., Madshus, C., and Dyvik, R. (1994). “Horizontal capacity of large-scale model anchors.” Proceedings 13th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Vol. 2, pp. 677–680.
Kim, Y. and Jang, Y. (2011). “Capacity and deformation behavior of loaded suction pile in sand.” Journal of Korean Geotechnical Society, Vol. 27, No. 11, pp. 27–37.
Kim, Y., Kim, K., Cho, Y., and Bang, S. (2010). “Centrifuge model tests on suction pile pullout loading capacity in sand.” Int. Conf. on Physical Modelling in Geomechanics, Vol. 2, pp. 787–792.
Kirstein, A. A., Allersma, H. G. B., Brinkgreve, R. B. J., and Simon, T. (1999). “Comparison study on analytical, centrifugal and numerical modeling of quasi-horizontal loaded suction piles.” Proc. Int. Symp. Beyond 2000 in Comp. Geotechnics, Amsterdam, Balkema, pp. 227–235.
Kwag, D. J., Cho, I. H., Bang, S., and Cho, Y. (2008). “Embedded suction anchors for mooring of a floating breakwater.” Int. Conf. on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), Vol. 4, pp. 51–56.
Larsen, P. (1989). “Suction anchors as an anchoring system for floating offshore constructions.” Proceedings of the Offshore Technology Conference OTC 6209, pp. 535–540.
LeBlanc, C., Ahle, K., Nielsen, S. A., and Ibsen, L. B. (2009). “The monopod bucket foundation — Recent experience and challenges ahead.” European Offshore Wind 2009 Conference and Exhibition, September, Stockholm, Sweden, ID: 165.
Park, J. B., Park, C. L., Kim, S. W., Jeong, H. J., Kim, Y. S., Kim, S. J., and Kim, Y. G. (1998). “Geotechnical centrifuge facility at Daewoo institute of construction.” Centrifuge 98, Tokyo, Japan, pp. 9–12.
Petrasovits, G. and Award, A. (1972). “Ultimate lateral resistance of a rigid pile in cohesionless soil.” Proc. of 5th European Conf. on SMFE, Vol. 3, pp. 407–412.
Prasad, Y. V. S. and Chari, T. R. (1999). “Lateral capacity of model rigid piles in cohesionless soils.” Soils and Foundations, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 21–29.
Randolph, M., O’Neill, M., and Stewart, D. (1998). “Performance of suction anchors in fine-grained calcareous soils.” Proceedings, Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 8831, pp. 521–529.
Supachawarote, C., Randolph, M., and Gourvenec, S. (2004). “Inclined pull-out capacity of suction caissons.” 14th Int. Offshore and Polar Eng. Conf. & Exhibition, Toulon, France, Vol. 2, pp. 500–506.
Tjelta, T. I. (2001). “Suction piles: Their position and application today.” 11th Int. Offshore and Polar Eng. Conf. & Exhibition, Stavanger, Norway, June, Vol. 2, pp. 1–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jang, YS., Kim, YS. Centrifugal model behavior of laterally loaded suction pile in sand. KSCE J Civ Eng 17, 980–988 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-013-0011-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-013-0011-z