A Data-Driven Approach on the Cyclic Effects on Shaft Capacity of Axially Loaded Offshore Piles
摘要
This paper describes an automation tool designed for the quantitative assessment of cyclic loading effects on the shaft capacity of axially loaded pile foundations, commonly used in fixed offshore structures such as wind turbines, substations, and O&G platforms. The tool, developed using Python programming language, relies on a well-established database of cyclic testing results encompassing various soils and drainage conditions. The cyclic effects, whether cyclic degradation or cyclic densification, are quantified based on the cyclic loads mobilised as a result of the push-pull mechanisms of axially loaded piles and cyclic interaction diagrams interpolated for given cyclic stress levels. The practical application of the tool is demonstrated using a case study involving a piled 4-legged jacket foundation installed in typical North Sea conditions. The results show the capability of the tool to offer a robust, engineering-based (data-driven) assessment, often yielding predictions less conservative than those assumed through a gross factor. Notably, this rapid-response tool is particularly well suited for early-stage design phases where advanced numerical analyses are not yet justified and a site-specific cyclic soil database is unavailable. In the detailed design phase, if required, the results from this tool can serve as guidance for more complex and time-consuming studies. The tool has been successfully employed in a number of projects at DORIS UK.