• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.227-243
• /
• 2015

In this paper, the effects of nonlinear soft clay on dynamic embedment of offshore pipeline were investigated. Seabed embedment by pipe-soil interactions has impacts on the structural boundary conditions for various subsea structures such as pipeline, riser, pile, and many other systems. A number of studies have been performed to estimate real soil behavior, but their estimation of seabed embedment has not been fully identified and there are still many uncertainties. In this regards, comparison of embedment between field survey and existing empirical models has been performed to identify uncertainties and investigate the effect of nonlinear soil parameter on dynamic embedment. From the comparison, it is found that the dynamic embedment with installation effects based on nonlinear soil model have an influence on seabed embedment. Therefore, the pipe embedment under dynamic condition by nonlinear parameters of soil models was investigated by Dynamic Embedment Factor (DEF) concept, which is defined as the ratio of the dynamic and static embedment of pipeline, in order to overcome the gap between field embedment and currently used empirical and numerical formula. Although DEF through various researches is suggested, its range is too wide and it does not consider dynamic laying effect. It is difficult to find critical parameters that are affecting to the embedment result. Therefore, the study on dynamic embedment factor by soft clay parameters of nonlinear soil model was conducted and the sensitivity analyses about parameters of nonlinear soil model were performed as well. The tendency on dynamic embedment factor was found by conducting numerical analyses using OrcaFlex software. It is found that DEF was influenced by shear strength gradient than other factors. The obtained results will be useful to understand the pipe embedment on soft clay seabed for applying offshore pipeline designs such as on-bottom stability and free span analyses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.62 no.4
• /
• pp.381-389
• /
• 2017

In the present study, the advanced procedure has been proposed to estimate higher accuracy of embedment of pipes that are installed on soft clay seabed. Numerical simulation by OrcaFlex simulation code was performed to investigate dynamic seabed embedment, and two steps, i.e., static and dynamic analysis, were adopted. In total, four empirical curves were developed to estimate the seabed embedment including dynamic phenomena, i.e., behaviour of vessel, environmental condition, and behaviour of nonlinear soil. The obtained results were compared with existing methods (named general method) such as design code or guideline to examine the difference of seabed embedment for existing and advance methods. Once this process was carried out for each case, a diagram for estimating seabed embedment was established. The applicability of the proposed method was verified through applied examples with field survey data. This method will be very useful in predicting seabed embedment on soft clay, and the structural behaviours of installed subsea pipelines can be changed by the obtained seabed embedment in association with on-bottom stability, free span, and many others.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.598-613
• /
• 2013

This paper deals with the dynamic effect of pipeline installation and embedment for the on-bottom stability design of offshore pipelines on soft clay. On-bottom stability analysis of offshore pipelines on soft clay by DNV-RP-F109 (DNV, 2010) results in very unreasonable pipe embedment and concrete coating thickness. Thus, a new procedure of the on-bottom stability analysis was established considering dynamic effects of pipeline installation and pipe-soil interaction at touchdown point (TDP). This analysis procedure is composed of three steps: global pipeline installation analysis, local analysis at TDP, modified on-bottom stability analysis using DNV-RP-F109. Data obtained from the dynamic pipeline installation analysis were utilized for the finite element analysis (FEA) of the pipeline embedment using the non-linear soil property. From the analysis results of the proposed procedure, an optimum design of on-bottom stability of offshore pipeline on soft clay can be achieved. This procedure and result will be useful to assess the on-bottom stability analysis of offshore pipelines on soft clay. The analysis results were justified by an offshore field inspection.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2017

PURPOSES : This paper presents a finite element model to accurately represent the soil-post interaction of single guardrail posts in sloping ground. In this study, the maximum lateral resistance of a guardrail post has been investigated under static and dynamic loadings, with respect given to several parameters including post shape, embedment depth, ground inclination, and embedment location of the steel post. METHODS : Because current analytical methods applied to horizontal ground, including Winkler's elastic spring model and the p-y curve method, cannot be directly applied to sloping ground, it is necessary to seek an alternative 3-D finite element model. For this purpose, a 3D FHWA soil model for road-base soils, as constructed using LS-DYNA, has been adopted to estimate the dynamic behavior of single guardrail posts using the pendulum drop test. RESULTS : For a laterally loaded guardrail post near slopes under static and dynamic loadings, the maximum lateral resistance of a guardrail post has been found to be reduced by approximately 12% and 13% relative to the static analysis and pendulum testing, respectively, due to the effects of ground inclination. CONCLUSIONS : It is expected that the proposed soil material model can be applied to guardrail systems installed near slopes.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.323-336
• /
• 2018

Machine foundations with impact loads are common powerful sources of industrial vibrations. These foundations are generally transferring vertical dynamic loads to the soil and generate ground vibrations which may harmfully affect the surrounding structures or buildings. Dynamic effects range from severe trouble of working conditions for some sensitive instruments or devices to visible structural damage. This work includes an experimental study on the behavior of dry dense sand under the action of a single impulsive load. The objective of this research is to predict the dry sand response under impact loads. Emphasis will be made on attenuation of waves induced by impact loads through the soil. The research also includes studying the effect of footing embedment, and footing area on the soil behavior and its dynamic response. Different falling masses from different heights were conducted using the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) to provide the single pulse energy. The responses of different soils were evaluated at different locations (vertically below the impact plate and horizontally away from it). These responses include; displacements, velocities, and accelerations that are developed due to the impact acting at top and different depths within the soil using the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) and accelerometers (ARH-500A Waterproof, and Low capacity Acceleration Transducer) that are embedded in the soil in addition to soil pressure gauges. It was concluded that increasing the footing embedment depth results in increase in the amplitude of the force-time history by about 10-30% due to increase in the degree of confinement. This is accompanied by a decrease in the displacement response of the soil by about 40-50% due to increase in the overburden pressure when the embedment depth increased which leads to increasing the stiffness of sandy soil. There is also increase in the natural frequency of the soil-foundation system by about 20-45%. For surface foundation, the foundation is free to oscillate in vertical, horizontal and rocking modes. But, when embedding a footing, the surrounding soil restricts oscillation due to confinement which leads to increasing the natural frequency. Moreover, the soil density increases with depth because of compaction, which makes the soil behave as a solid medium. Increasing the footing embedment depth results in an increase in the damping ratio by about 50-150% due to the increase of soil density as D/B increases, hence the soil tends to behave as a solid medium which activates both viscous and strain damping.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.153-159
• /
• 2019

This paper examines the results from three-dimensional dynamic finite element analysis undertaken to develop a new dynamically installed anchor (DIA). Several candidate shapes of new DIAs were selected after an investigation into previous researches of existing DIA designs. The performances of selected DIAs during the installation and loading in non-homogeneous clay were investigated through large deformation finite element (LDFE) analyses. Findings were compared to the current anchors in operation (i.e., Torpedo and Omni-Max DIA) to assess the viability of the new designs in the field. Overall, the anchor embedment depths of the novel DIAs lied under the results of OMNI-Max DIA. And also, the tracked anchor trajectory confirmed that, the novel DIAs dove deeper with stiffer travelling angle, compared to the OMNI-Max DIA. These elements are more critical and beneficial especially in a field where the achieved embedment depths are generally low.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.83-107
• /
• 2016

In this study, the response and behavior of machine foundations resting on dry and saturated sand was investigated experimentally. A physical model was manufactured to simulate steady state harmonic load applied on a footing resting on sandy soil at different operating frequencies. Total of (84) physical models were performed. The parameters that were taken into consideration include loading frequency, size of footing and different soil conditions. The footing parameters are related to the size of the rectangular footing and depth of embedment. Two sizes of rectangular steel model footing were used. The footings were tested by changing all parameters at the surface and at 50 mm depth below model surface. Meanwhile, the investigated parameters of the soil condition include dry and saturated sand for two relative densities; 30 % and 80 %. The dynamic loading was applied at different operating frequencies. The response of the footing was elaborated by measuring the amplitude of displacement using the vibration meter. The response of the soil to dynamic loading includes measuring the stresses inside soil media by using piezoelectric sensors. It was concluded that the final settlement (St) of the foundation increases with increasing the amplitude of dynamic force, operating frequency and degree of saturation. Meanwhile, it decreases with increasing the relative density of sand, modulus of elasticity and embedding inside soils. The maximum displacement amplitude exhibits its maximum value at the resonance frequency, which is found to be about 33.34 to 41.67 Hz. In general, embedment of footing in sandy soils leads to a beneficial reduction in dynamic response (displacement and excess pore water pressure) for all soil types in different percentages accompanied by an increase in soil strength.

• Computational Structural Engineering
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 1993

Recently it is recognized that the effects of structure-soil interaction(SSI) on the response of structures are important in the dynamic analysis of structures. In this study, theoretical and experimental investigations were performed to study the SSI effects(mainly inertial interaction) on the dynamic response of buildings utilizing the finite element foumulation. Theoretical studies were performed with two idealized buildings(stubby one and slender one) built on the homogeneous soil layer and having the small embedment ratio. Experimental investigations were also carried out for two buildings built on the pile foundation in Mexico City, experienced the 1985 Earthquake. The results of this study show that the SSI effects are significant on the response of structures due to the change of fundamental frequency and effective damping ratio, and that it is necessary to include the SSI effects on the dynamic analysis of structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.39-58
• /
• 2016

Since the publication of ACI 318-02, the concrete capacity design (CCD) method has been used to determine the resistance of unreinforced concrete anchors. The regulation of steel-reinforced anchors was proposed in ACI 318-08. Until ACI 318-08, the shear resistance of concrete breakout for an unreinforced anchor during an earthquake was reduced to 75% of the static shear strength, but this reduction has been eliminated since ACI 318-11. In addition, the resistance of a hairpin-reinforced anchor was calculated using only the strength of the steel, and a regulation on the dynamic strength was not given for reinforced anchors. In this study, shaking table tests were performed to evaluate the dynamic shear strength of unreinforced and hairpin-reinforced cast-in-place (CIP) anchors during earthquakes. The anchors used in this study were 30 mm in diameter, with edge distances of 150 mm and embedment depths of 240 mm. The diameter of the hairpin steel was 10 mm. Shaking table tests were carried out on two specimens using the artificial earthquake, based on the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC)'s Regulatory Guide 1.60, and the Northridge earthquake. The experimental results were compared to the current ACI 318 and ETAG 001 design codes.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.25-35
• /
• 2018

Geocentrifuge tests are performed to investigate the structure-soil-structure interaction of shallow foundations that have various sizes. The soil specimen is prepared by using the air-pluviation, and the dynamic responses of the foundation are monitored with separation distances between the two foundations and the embedment. During the centrifugal test, the measured ground acceleration shows a tendency to increase with the increase of the input seismic amplitude, and maximum acceleration is measured at the surface due to the ground amplification. As the separation distance between the two foundations decreases, the ratio of the response spectral acceleration (RRS) increases and the period at the peak RRS decreases due to the structure-soil-structure interaction (SSSI). The RRS of the two foundations tends to decrease when the foundations are buried in the ground at the same separation distance.