ABSTRACT
The main objective of this study was to-through reviewing relevant literature and conducting physical testing and numerical modelling-identify and investigate the soil mechanics phenomena controlling the recovery of granular seabed soils in vibrocores. The following sub-objectives were developed: a) The calibration of a 3-Dimensional (3D) discrete element model to the physical results of vibrocoring tests conducted in saturated soil, and b) The assessment of the physical and numerical results, offering insight into the observed response of the vibrocoring system, including soil recovery and forces required for barrel penetration.
