GEOLAB - Centrifuge modelling of suction anchors under multi-directional cyclic loading

Introduction This dataset is an output of the GEOLAB Benchmark Project and it includes measurements from experiments performed using the IGT beam centrifuge at ETH Zürich Hönggerberg on wished-in-place suction caisson anchors in a normally to overconsolidated kaolin testbed. The caisson models were loaded at an inclined angle monotonically and under uni- and multi-directional cyclic conditions. Tests were conducted at an enhanced gravitational acceleration of 100g. GEOLAB GEOLAB is a project of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 101006512, addressing Europe's Critical Infrastructure (CI) challenges in the water, energy, urban, and transport sectors. During the GEOLAB Transnational Access (TA), users outside the consortium gained access to the GEOLAB installations to perform research and innovation. CANSAncor Project The Centrifuge and Advanced Numerical modelling of Shared suction ANChOR under multi-directional cyclic Loading (CANSAncor) project aims to investigate the effect of multi-directional cyclic loading on suction caisson capacity in clay. As offshore wind arrays venture into deeper waters, floating wind platforms become necessary. In such arrays, costs can be reduced by sharing anchors among several turbine platforms, in a multi-mooring line configuration. This, however, creates unique loading characteristics where, during storm events, loads are imposed both cyclically and multi-directionally. To investigate the impact of such loading, the objective of this campaign is threefold: To establish baseline performance of the suction anchor model under monotonic loading in the kaolin testbed. To establish the behaviour of the system under unidirectional cyclic loading. To assess performance of the system under multi-directional loading. These three loading cases are investigated through a series of individual centrifuge tests conducted using the IGT beam centrifuge. This is a preliminary (Rev A) dataset providing the load displacement and porewater pressure data during centrifuge flight for the successful tests. Further data will follow in a revised dataset.