The response of caisson induced by adjacent spudcan penetration in nonhomogeneous clay

This paper investigates the impact of spudcan foundations penetration on nearby caisson foundations, a critical aspect in offshore wind turbine system (OWT) installations. This study employs numerical simulations to analyze the responses of a caisson to adjacent spudcan penetration in nonhomogeneous clay, focusing on deformation mechanisms and their quantification through large deformation finite elements (LDFE). By validating numerical models with existing data on penetration resistance and soil deformation, and conducting an extensive parametric study, key factors influencing caisson deformation are identified, which include the proximity of the spudcan to the caisson, the caisson’s length over diameter ratio, and the soil property. The findings reveal three distinct deformation mechanisms of the caisson, leading to the development of empirical formulae for estimating the rotational angle of a caisson, where rotation angles of simulated cases are between 0° and 0.4°. This offers valuable design guidance for construction of caissons in OWTs.