A Parametric Study on the Installation of Tapered Suction Caissons in Clay

Some recent investigations indicated that tapered suction caissons may achieve pull-out capacities several times higher than that from their equivalent upright caissons. This paper reports results from a numerical approach to study the installation of tapered suction caissons in clay. It has been noticed that, in general, tapered caissons of positive wall slope need extra forces, in comparison to their equivalent upright caissons, to achieve a full penetration. However, with models examined in clay, it has been noticed that the total force required for the full penetration of the tapered caisson is not significantly higher than that for the equivalent upright one. The variation has been about a few ten percents. The numerical model has then been used to examine the effects from variations in soil properties and the caisson's geometry on the total efforts required for the installation of tapered suction caisson.