Design procedures for installation of suction caissons in sand

Suction-installed caisson foundations are being used or considered for a wide variety of offshore applications ranging from anchors for floating facilities to shallow foundations for offshore wind turbines. In the design of the caissons the installation procedure must be considered as well as the in-place performance. The scope of this paper is to consider the calculations appropriate for the installation of caissons in sands. Calculation methods are presented for determining the resistance to penetration of open-ended cylindrical caisson foundations both with and without the application of suction inside the caisson. Comparisons are made with case records. A companion paper addresses the calculation procedure for installation in clays as well as in other soils.