THREE DIMENSIONAL LIQUEFACTION ANALYSIS OF OFFSHORE FOUNDATIONS

Abstract

This thesis presents numerical techniques which have been developed to analyse three dimensional problems in offshore engineering. In particular, the three dimensional liquefaction analysis of offshore foundations on granular soils is the main subject of the thesis. The subject matter is broadly divided into four sections: 1)Development of an efficient method for the three dimensional elasto?plastic finite element analysis of consolidating soil through the use of a discrete Fourier representation of field quantities. 2)Validation of the three dimensional method through analyses of shallow offshore foundations subjected to three dimensional loading and investigation of the yield locus for foundations on purely cohesive soils. 3)Formulation of governing equations suitable for three dimensional liquefaction analyses of offshore foundations founded on granular soil, presentation of a method for liquefaction analyses, and application of the method in modified elastic liquefaction analyses of offshore foundations. 4)Application of a conventional elasto?plastic soil model in the liquefaction analyses of offshore foundations using the three dimensional finite element method. The finite element method developed in this thesis provides a rigorous and efficient numerical tool for the analysis of geotechnical problems subjected to three dimensional loading. The efficiency of the numerical tool makes it possible to tackle some of the problems in geotechnical engineering which would otherwise need enormous computing time and thus would be impractical. The accuracy of the numerical scheme is demonstrated by solving the bearing capacity problem of shallow foundations subjected to three dimensional loading. The generalized governing equations and the numerical method for liquefaction analyses presented in this thesis provide a solid base for the analysis of offshore foundations subjected to cyclic wave loading where they are founded on potentially liquefiable soil. The practicability of the numerical scheme is also demonstrated by a modified elastic liquefaction analysis of offshore foundations. The liquefaction phenomenon is redefined in the context of the conventional Mohr?Coulomb model, so that a relatively simple and practical model for elasto?plastic liquefaction analysis is presented. The three dimensional finite element method together with the numerical scheme for liquefaction analysis and the elasto?plastic soil model provide a suitable practical engineering tool for exploring the responses of offshore foundations subjected to cyclic wave loading.