ABSTRACT
This study has been a part of a research project whose aim is to develop a bucket foundation as a foundation for offshore wind turbines. The bucket foundation, often referred to as “suction caisson”, is a large cylindrical structure, typically made of steel, see Figure 1. Depending on the skirt length and diameter, the bucket has a moment resistance equivalent to a monopile, a gravity foundation or in between. The bucket is installed using suction assisted penetration where suction is applied within the caisson after an initial penetration into the seabed caused by self-weight. The suction creates a pressure differential across the caisson lid, effectively increasing the downward force on the caisson while reducing the skirt tip resistance. Suction assisted penetration has the potential to significantly reduce installation costs, since large jack-up, driving and drilling equipment can be avoided.
