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Shape effects on undrained capacity of mudmat foundations under multi-directional loading

Shape effects on undrained capacity of mudmat foundations under multi-directional loading
Shape effects on undrained capacity of mudmat foundations under multi-directional loading

The results presented in this paper systematically quantify shape effects on undrained capacity of rectangular mudmat foundations under multi-directional loading for a practical range of soil shear strength heterogeneity. Mudmat foundations are extensively deployed to support infrastructure for subsea production systems, are typically rectangular in plan, ranging from square to a width-to-length aspect ratio of 0.2, and are subject to multi-directional loading from the attached pipelines and jumpers. The load-carrying capacity of rectangular mudmats on deposits with undrained shear strength linearly increasing with depth is analysed by the finite-element method, and presented in the form of ‘failure envelopes’. The results show that shape effects are significant and are dependent on the degree of soil strength heterogeneity and loading direction (relative to the orthogonal axes of the mudmat). General algebraic expressions are established that systematically define the coupled effects of width-to-length aspect ratio of the mudmats and the degree of strength heterogeneity of the subsoil. Expressions describing the uniaxial ultimate limit states and the normalised failure envelopes under multi-directional loading can be programmed into a calculation tool for automating optimised mudmat sizing for a range of foundation geometry and soil strength heterogeneity.

Bearing capacity, Failure, Geotechnical design, Seabed foundations, Subsea systems
0029-8018
221-235
Feng, Xiaowei
b1a28be8-c603-4239-9c93-b2c14274e9c7
Gourvenec, Susan
6ff91ad8-1a91-42fe-a3f4-1b5d6f5ce0b8
Shen, Zhichao
bb76dad2-f5c2-455f-895b-597ecb9e302e
Feng, Xiaowei
b1a28be8-c603-4239-9c93-b2c14274e9c7
Gourvenec, Susan
6ff91ad8-1a91-42fe-a3f4-1b5d6f5ce0b8
Shen, Zhichao
bb76dad2-f5c2-455f-895b-597ecb9e302e

Feng, Xiaowei, Gourvenec, Susan and Shen, Zhichao (2017) Shape effects on undrained capacity of mudmat foundations under multi-directional loading. Ocean Engineering, 135, 221-235. (doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.02.033).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The results presented in this paper systematically quantify shape effects on undrained capacity of rectangular mudmat foundations under multi-directional loading for a practical range of soil shear strength heterogeneity. Mudmat foundations are extensively deployed to support infrastructure for subsea production systems, are typically rectangular in plan, ranging from square to a width-to-length aspect ratio of 0.2, and are subject to multi-directional loading from the attached pipelines and jumpers. The load-carrying capacity of rectangular mudmats on deposits with undrained shear strength linearly increasing with depth is analysed by the finite-element method, and presented in the form of ‘failure envelopes’. The results show that shape effects are significant and are dependent on the degree of soil strength heterogeneity and loading direction (relative to the orthogonal axes of the mudmat). General algebraic expressions are established that systematically define the coupled effects of width-to-length aspect ratio of the mudmats and the degree of strength heterogeneity of the subsoil. Expressions describing the uniaxial ultimate limit states and the normalised failure envelopes under multi-directional loading can be programmed into a calculation tool for automating optimised mudmat sizing for a range of foundation geometry and soil strength heterogeneity.

Text
2017 Ocean Engineering 135_221-235 Feng et al. - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 27 February 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 16 March 2017
Published date: 1 May 2017
Keywords: Bearing capacity, Failure, Geotechnical design, Seabed foundations, Subsea systems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 414895
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/414895
ISSN: 0029-8018
PURE UUID: e01d4c1e-5ff2-41cc-894b-dd54ca20931c
ORCID for Susan Gourvenec: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2628-7914

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 Oct 2017 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 05:46

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Contributors

Author: Xiaowei Feng
Author: Susan Gourvenec ORCID iD
Author: Zhichao Shen

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