Large deformation modelling of soil squeezing and its application to spudcan in clay with interbedded sand

Large Deformation Finite Element (LDFE) modelling is conducted to study the bearing capacity of large offshore foundations in limited clay depth. Complementary visualising centrifuge experiments are reported in clay with interbedded sand, correlating with the numerical study. The current squeezing methodology neglects the conical underpart of the spudcan and any possible deformation of the underlying layers and hence does not predict the measured resistance well. An alternate approach overcoming the limitations of the squeezing theory is presented and verified.