Suction buckets represent a viable solution as foundations for offshore wind turbines. Installation in sand is relatively straightforward, albeit with limited understanding of the resulting changes in soil state. This paper describes an experimental methodology that allows for visualisation and quantification of changes in soil state during suction bucket installation, validated in sand. Insights obtained from particle image velocimetry analyses, performed on images of a half-bucket installing against a Perspex window taken in a geotechnical centrifuge are discussed. Compared with the initial self-weight penetration, the deformation mechanism governing the suction-assisted phase shows a preference for the soil below the skirt tips to move inwards and upwards inside the bucket. The installation process is responsible for changes in relative density and permeability within the bucket. In these experiments, the majority of the soil plug heave can be attributed to the soil displaced inwards by the advancing skirts, with a minor contribution caused by dilation. The confidence in the experimental methodology provided through the results of suction bucket installation in sand discussed herein now enables suction bucket installation in more complex seabeds to be investigated.

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Suction buckets are becoming established as a viable foundation solution for offshore wind turbines. In sand, suction-induced seepage flow reduces effective stresses at the skirt tips, which decreases penetration resistance. However, layered seabeds are often encountered in areas of offshore wind farm development. The effect of the presence of a clay layer on the suction-induced seepage flow in the sand layer is not well understood. Therefore in this study, the effects of a clay layer on suction bucket installation in dense sand was investigated by analysing images of a half-bucket installed against a Perspex window captured during tests performed in a geotechnical centrifuge, such that the stress levels are realistic and relevant to field conditions. Installations in sand-over-clay were unproblematic and characterised by deformation of the sand-clay interface, with no clear interruption of the seepage flow.Installations in clay-over-sand were also successful. Uplift of the clay plug was identified as the mechanism to transfer suction to the underlying sand, creating seepage flow and thus facilitating further skirt penetration rather than terminating the installation.

Spudcan foundations of mobile jack-up rigs are penetrated into the seabed under seawater ballast preload, which is shed prior to rig operations commencing. During pauses in the installation process and during operation, soil beneath the spudcan foundations stiffens and strengthens due to consolidation. On the application of further loading or during spudcan extraction, this causes increased resistance, which in extremis can result in punch-though type failure. This note reports results from a series of experiments with particle image velocimetry measurements that were performed in a drum centrifuge to facilitate observation of the effects of a load-hold period on the soil movements around a model spudcan during subsequent further loading. The results show that the dimensionless load-hold period dominates the enhancement in the penetration resistance, due to significantly more soil being mobilised following a long load-hold period. These observations might be useful to (a) predict the enhancement in bearing capacity factor due to a load-hold period during installation or operation and (b) predict the footing extraction resistance during jack-up re-deployment.