TY - GEN

T1 - Evaluation of p-y Approaches for Piles in Soft Clay

AU - Terceros Almanza, Mauricio Marcelo

AU - Achmus, Martin

AU - Thieken, Klaus

N1 - Conference code: 8

PY - 2017/1/1

Y1 - 2017/1/1

N2 - When it comes to the general design of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines (OWT), the p-y approach according to the offshore guidelines is commonly used. The here stated p-y curves for soft clay are based on a parabolic approach by Matlock, whereby different linearisations of the p-y curve are recommended by the guidelines of the American Petroleum Institute and the DNVGL. Referring to the basic p-y formulation according to Matlock, various experimental and numerical investigations had already shown considerable inadequacies in particular with respect to the suitability for large-diameter piles. Appropriate modifications to account for the pile diameter effect were for instance developed by Stevens & Audibert. The paper presents a comparative numerical study regarding the suitability of the original p-y curve by Matlock, the linearized Matlock curve by the DNVGL and modified Matlock curve by Stevens & Audibert for piles of varied dimensions in typical North and Baltic Sea clay conditions. It is concluded that none of the regarded approaches is generally valid for arbitraiy clay conditions and pile dimensions. The findings from the investigation are finally used for the specification of requirements regarding a new, superior p-y approach.

AB - When it comes to the general design of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines (OWT), the p-y approach according to the offshore guidelines is commonly used. The here stated p-y curves for soft clay are based on a parabolic approach by Matlock, whereby different linearisations of the p-y curve are recommended by the guidelines of the American Petroleum Institute and the DNVGL. Referring to the basic p-y formulation according to Matlock, various experimental and numerical investigations had already shown considerable inadequacies in particular with respect to the suitability for large-diameter piles. Appropriate modifications to account for the pile diameter effect were for instance developed by Stevens & Audibert. The paper presents a comparative numerical study regarding the suitability of the original p-y curve by Matlock, the linearized Matlock curve by the DNVGL and modified Matlock curve by Stevens & Audibert for piles of varied dimensions in typical North and Baltic Sea clay conditions. It is concluded that none of the regarded approaches is generally valid for arbitraiy clay conditions and pile dimensions. The findings from the investigation are finally used for the specification of requirements regarding a new, superior p-y approach.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135199980&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3723/OSIG17.724

DO - 10.3723/OSIG17.724

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9780906940570

VL - 2

T3 - Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics

SP - 724

EP - 731

BT - Offshore Site Investigation Geotechnics 8th International Conference Proceeding

T2 - Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics 2017

Y2 - 12 September 2017 through 14 September 2017

ER -