Open AccessSTABILITY AND BEARING CAPACITY OF BOTTOM SEDIMENTS by R.J.
Author(s) -
R.J. Mitchell,
J.A. Hull
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
proceedings of conference on coastal engineering/proceedings of ... conference on coastal engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2156-1028
pISSN - 0589-087X
DOI - 10.9753/icce.v14.73
Subject(s) - geotechnical engineering , shearing (physics) , submarine , storm , wave loading , submarine pipeline , bearing capacity , geology , landslide , oceanography
The results of model testing show that the strength and stability of bottom sediments can be substantially reduced by the cyclic loading pulses induced by wave action. The minimum soil strength is approximately equal to the remoulded vane strength and the depth of wave remoulding appears to be mainly a function of the wave characteristics. The phenomenon of wave remoulding should be considered in the design of offshore foundations as reductions in bearing capacity and lateral shearing resistance can develop as a result of the action of storm waves. Where bottom sediments are sloping such that the static factor of safety against slope failure is less than the soil sensitivity, severe storm conditions may lead to submarine landsliding. Wave induced submarine landsliding has been reproduced in model tests and the results are correlated with current analytical approaches to this problem.