Vertical Stiffness Functions of Rigid Skirted Caissons Supporting Offshore Wind Turbines

Suction Bucket Jackets (SBJs) need to be fundamentally designed avoid rocking modes of vibration about the principal axes set foundations and engineered towards sway-bending tower vibration. Whether or not such type jackets exhibit depends on vertical stiffness caissons supporting them. This paper therefore derives closed form solutions for in three types ground profiles: linear, homogenous, parabolic. The expressions are applicable suction having an aspect ratio (depth: diameter) between 0.2 2 (i.e., < L/D 2). work is based finite element analysis followed by non-linear regression. derived then validated verified using studies available literature. Finally, example problem taken demonstrate application methodology whereby fundamental natural frequency SBJ can obtained. These formulae used preliminary design also verify rigorous during detailed design.