Structural Solutions for the Enhancement of Gravity Foundations on Very Soft Arctic Soils

by Michael Rojansky, Ben C. Gerwick Inc, San Francisco, CA, USA,
Ben C. Gerwick, Jr., Ben C. Gerwick Inc, San Francisco, CA, USA,
Jeffrey Weaver, Ben C. Gerwick Inc, San Francisco, CA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Civil Engineering in the Arctic Offshore

Abstract:

Very soft soils in several offshore Arctic areas cause a major concern in the design of gravity foundations, particularly in view of the high magnitudes of ice loads. Preliminary studies undertaken to assess the feasibility of utilizing gravity foundations in these soft soils indicate that substantial soil enhancement is required. Various alternatives are available for solving the soft soil problem. These vary from removing the soft soil by dredging to in situ soil improvement by means of precompression and drainage, freezing, deep cement mixing or the installation of sand/stone columns. Two possible structural solutions for enhancing the gravity foundation capacities on soft soils are proposed and described. These are the Self Penetrating Structure and the Mat and Piles System. In both cases the foundation enhancement can be fully accomplished from aboard the platform and completed within a relatively short period.

Subject Headings: Soft soils | Offshore structures | Underwater foundations | Soil stabilization | Pile foundations | Underwater structures | Soil mixing | Arctic

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