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Axial capacity of offshore piles driven in dense sand

Conference ·
OSTI ID:413514
The paper reports a previously unpublished tension load test to failure on a 38.1 m long, 660 mm diameter steel pipe conductor driven in predominantly dense sands at the Leman BD site in the Southern North Sea. The case history is used, with other pile test data, to evaluate and calibrate new design methods that have been developed from recent research. As an example, the findings are applied to a study into the axial capacity of piles driven at the nearby Leman AD II site. The Leman soil conditions are described, and the driving records and test result are presented. The new design methods are then summarized and applied to analyze the conductor`s capacity. A comparison with other pile capacity prediction methods is made and the results are used, in conjunction with other data, to demonstrate that a modified form of the new method can give accurate predictions for offshore pipe piles. Applying these approaches the Leman AD II platform`s foundations indicates axial capacities greater than expected previously. Increases in compressive and tensile capacities of at least 15 and 50%, respectively, are predicted. Research is continuing to further refine the new methods for calculating axial capacity.
OSTI ID:
413514
Report Number(s):
CONF-960525--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English