Is under-base filling necessary?: Assessing behaviour of partially installed suction caisson

In the past decade, suction caissons have emerged as a preferred offshore foundation solution for wind turbines due to their silent installation process and potential for recyclability. However, there has been growing speculation regarding the necessity of under base filling, which involves filling the gap between the top plate of the suction...

Optimization of grillage design for the transportation oof suction caisson jackets

Suction caisson jacket (SCJ) is one of the most promising substructures, under certain conditions, for offshore wind turbines. Their unique characteristic of large diameter (D) compared to their small wall thickness (t) conducts them an object of study, concerning their transportation to the offshore location, as their structural stability...

Tri-Suction Pile Caisson - Analysis of Soil-Structure Interaction

Offshore wind turbines are getting larger and are being installed in ever deeper waters. This requires increasingly stronger yet affordable foundations. The Tri-Suction Pile Caisson (TSPC) is a Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) foundation concept patented by SPT Offshore that requires a smaller amount of structural steel or concrete than a...

Behaviour of Suction Caisson subjected to Cyclic Loading in Tension

As countries around the world are in a race for clean energy, various renewable energy sources are harvested to meet the energy needs. In Western Europe, wind energy is the primary source of renewable energy. To meet the energy demand, higher capacity wind turbines are being installed in deeper waters. In deep waters, monopile foundations are...

Installation of suction caissons in layered sand: Assessment of geotechnical aspects

Suction caissons are used more and more for various in the oil&gas and offshore wind industries. Although, the use of suction caissons is not new, uncertainty still exists regarding their installation, due to the varying soil profiles encountered and the absence of experience within the offshore industry. Prediction methods, regarding the...

Long Term Effects of Cyclic Loading on Suction Caisson Foundations

Significant financial investments are made in the offshore wind energy, in a race to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The trend is to install larger capacity wind turbines in deeper waters, further from shore. DTI (2001) states that 30% of this investment is represented by the foundation costs. Senders (2008) and Byrne & Houlsby (2003) found...

The Modelling of Suction Caisson Foundations for Multi-Footed Structures

Suction caissons are a type of offshore foundation that allow for fast and noise-free installation and decommissioning of offshore structures. They have been used for 30 years in the oil and gas industry and are also becoming more common in the offshore wind sector as a promising way to cost reduction, both for foundations of single turbines and...

Installation effects of suction caissons in non-standard soil conditions

Nowadays suction caissons are extensively used for anchoring large offshore floating facilities. Installation of suction caissons in coarse grained soils is achieved by induced seepage flow in the soil. This reduces the soil resistance at the caisson tip, which contributes to the installation process. Installation in fine grained materials with...