Geotechnical model

  • Scour depth, i.e. the maximum depth of the eroded hole that forms around the structure

    • The length from the mudline to actual contact point between the mud and the conductor

  • Type: options Static or Cyclic

    • Used to determine which geotechnical spring properties will be calculated.

  • Used for calculating the geotechncial spring properties, options:

    • Calculate the diameter from the cross section

    • Define the diameter

1. Specify the soil layers

For each soil layer, define the soil material and the corresponding Lower Z.

Soil material types are specified in Clay or Sand.

Lower Z is the distance from the mudline to the lower end of the soil layer.

geotechmodel EmbeddedPile
Figure 1. Embedded pile

2. Calculate axis pile resistance

This is a description of the input for axial pile resistance (T-z curve) in the geotechnical model.

Select the checkbox labeled Calculate Axial Pile Resistance to enable. Three more parameters will then have to be specified.

  • Pile Type, options: Open end or Closed end

    • Clay: Closed-ended piles - K=1.0

    • Sand: Closed-ended piles - K=1.0

    • Open-ended piles - K=0.8

  • Zone of influence, Zi:

    • A dimensionless zone of influence, defined as the radius of the zone of influence around the pile divided by the radius of the piles, R.

  • Curve fitting factor, Rf:

    • This parameter adjusts curve shape.

    • The figure below shows curves with different curve fitting factors - Rf=0.5, Rf=0.9 and Rf=0.98.

tzcurves
Figure 2. TZ-curves