Whole life design: theory and applications of this new approach to offshore geotechnics

Abstract

Geotechnical properties can evolve throughout the design life of a structure due to actions imposed during installation, the operational life or late and end of life management of an asset. Whole life geotechnical design seeks to predict soil-structure responses across the design life by considering the whole life of imposed actions coupled with geotechnical properties that evolve with each action. In contrast, traditional geotechnical design considers the ‘worst case’ single value of minimum resistance or stiffness coupled with the ‘worst case’ single value of maximum action over the design life. The emerging philosophy of whole life geotechnical design checks limit states at different stages of the ‘whole life’ against ‘current’ geotechnical properties, updated based on the processes that have occurred and the responses that have accumulated earlier in the design life. Consideration of whole life geotechnical response provides greater insight, enabling forecasting of the response of a supported structure through and beyond its design life. Insights can be applied at the initial design stage for optimal sizing; through life for assessing or predicting cumulative displacements or changes in resistance, and assumptions in the initial design against observed performance. By extension, these insights can be used to predict actual remaining design life; for re-lifing or re-purposing; and decommissioning. This paper presents the overarching philosophy of whole life geotechnical design, theory underpinning the evolution of geotechnical properties, derivation of the appropriate parameters, and some applications. This paper demonstrates the potential of whole life design, particularly to the emerging opportunities of offshore renewable energy infrastructure.

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ORCID for Susan Gourvenec: orcid.org/0000-0002-2628-7914

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