Evaluation of the vertical and horizontal undrained bearing capacities of suction buckets for wind turbines in clay

Abstract

Three-dimensional finite element analyses were performed to evaluate the undrained bearing capacities of suction bucket foundations in homogenous clay. The loading conditions were vertical (V), horizontal (H), and combined (V-H). The effect of the aspect ratios (skirt length to diameter ratios, L/D) of a suction bucket on the bearing capacities was investigated. Dimensionless and normalized failure envelopes in a V-H load space were developed. The sizes and shapes of failure envelopes, as well as the failure mechanism, were clearly shown to be dependent on the aspect ratios of the foundations.