Penetrometer-Based Assessment of Spudcan Penetration Resistance

Estimation of spudcan penetration resistance is an important design step to guarantee the stability and functionality of offshore mobile jack-up units. Dependence on in situ penetrometer test data to evaluate the stratigraphy and resulting spudcan capacity profile has been increased. However, this becomes difficult in intermediate soil types in which the degree of consolidation during penetration falls between the extremes of fully drained or fully undrained. In this study, a penetrometer-based methodology utilizing results from cone and T-bar penetration tests is developed. Three main steps are involved, comprising estimation of the relative penetration resistance of spudcan and cone or T-bar penetrometer under fully drained and fully undrained conditions, and then quantifying the effect of the different normalized penetration rates for spudcan and penetrometer. Values of the various correlation parameters for the proposed model are evaluated. The validity and accuracy of the proposed methodology are evaluated through case studies from centrifuge tests in clay and a field example of spudcan installation in interbedded carbonate silts and sands. The comparisons confirm the potential of the proposed methodology for interpretation of penetrometer tests and application to the prediction of foundation performance.