Combined bearing behavior of suction bucket foundation in sand

doi:10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.03.005

Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science)

2026, Vol. 60

Issue (3): 495-503 DOI: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.03.005

Combined bearing behavior of suction bucket foundation in sand

Zhengyu CHEN1,2(

),Chenrong ZHANG1,2,*(

),Zhenhao SHI1,2,Chen HAO1,2

1. Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
2. Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

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Abstract

The combined bearing capacity of suction bucket foundations for offshore wind turbines in sandy soil was analyzed. A state-dependent elastoplastic model for sand was employed, and numerical simulations were conducted by using the UMAT subroutine in ABAQUS finite element software. The model’s validity was verified through simulations of soil element tests. Simulations were performed on the bearing behavior of suction bucket foundations in sandy soil. The computation results were compared with those obtained from an ideal elastic-plastic soil model following the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion (MC model). Differences in the failure envelope surfaces under combined loading of the suction bucket foundation in sand were analyzed. Results show that the state-dependent sand model can reasonably reflect the bearing characteristics of the suction bucket foundation. The combined bearing capacity of the suction bucket foundation in two-dimensional and three-dimensional load spaces, which is obtained using the MC model, is generally more conservative in most cases. Applying a certain vertical load at the top of the bucket can improve the horizontal-moment composite bearing capacity of the foundation under three-dimensional combined loading, but the effect is limited.

Key words： sand suction bucket foundation state-dependent model sand model

Received: 20 May 2025 Published: 04 February 2026

CLC:	TM 614
	P 75

Fund: 国家自然科学基金资助项目（51779175）.

Corresponding Authors: Chenrong ZHANG E-mail: 2232578@tongji.edu.cn;zcrong33@tongji.edu.cn

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Cite this article:

Zhengyu CHEN,Chenrong ZHANG,Zhenhao SHI,Chen HAO. Combined bearing behavior of suction bucket foundation in sand. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2026, 60(3): 495-503.

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https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.03.005 OR https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/Y2026/V60/I3/495

砂土地基中吸力桶基础的复合承载特性

针对砂土地基中海上风机吸力桶基础的复合承载问题开展研究. 采用状态相关砂土弹塑性模型，基于ABAQUS有限元软件UMAT子程序开展数值模拟. 通过土单元试验的模拟，验证了模型的合理性. 对砂土中吸力桶基础的承载特性进行模拟，将计算结果与遵循Mohr-Coulomb屈服准则理想弹塑性土体模型(MC模型)的计算结果进行对比，分析砂土中吸力桶基础复合加载下破坏包络面的区别. 结果表明，砂土状态相关的模型能够合理地反映吸力桶基础的承载特性，采用MC模型得到的吸力桶基础在二维及三维荷载空间的复合承载性能在大部分情况下更保守. 吸力桶基础在三维荷载组合作用下，在桶顶施加一定的竖向荷载有利于提高基础的水平-力矩复合承载力，但效果有限.

关键词： 砂土, 吸力桶基础, 状态相关模型, 砂土模型

Fig.1 Critical state line and state parameter

Tab.1 Parameter of state-dependent sand model

Fig.2 Comparison of undrained triaxial test result

Tab.2 Parameter of MC sand model (D_r = 37.9%)

Tab.3 Parameter of MC sand model (D_r = 63.7%)

Fig.3 Verification of mesh, geostress equilibrium and mesh independence

Fig.4 Comparison of moment-rotation curve (D_r = 60%)

Fig.5 Comparison of load-displacement curve

Fig.6 Stress contour plot under ultimate horizontal loading (D_r = 37.9%)

Fig.7 Tangent intersection method

Fig.8 Comparison of normalized failure envelope in V-H loading space

Fig.9 Comparison of normalized failure envelope in V-M loading space

Fig.10 Comparison of normalized failure envelope in H-M loading space

Fig.11 Influence of V on H-M failure envelope of foundation (V≤0.5V_ult)

Fig.12 Failure envelope of suction bucket foundation under V-H-M loading (V≤0.5V_ult)


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