Shallow Foundations

The group has wide ranging interests focused on the behaviour of shallow foundations for over 30 years, including on the spud-can foundations for jack-up rigs as well as suction installed caisson foundations used for renewable energy structures. The aim of the group has been to develop mathematical modelling tools, the so-called macro-element models, that capture the overall behaviour of the foundation, calibrated against laboratory and field testing, which can then be used straight-forwardly within numerical structural analysis. Research has involved detailed three dimensional finite element analysis, for foundation performance under load, through to simplified analytical calculations, such as for suction installation of caisson foundations. A special feature of the work has been on laboratory model testing using bespoke loading equipment that can apply unique load and displacement paths to model foundations. The results from such tests provide the basis for development of new theories of foundation behaviour. For further information please contact Prof Byron Byrne, Prof Chris Martin or Prof Harvey Burd.