OFFSHORE GRAVITY STRUCTURES: CENTRIFUGAL MODELING

Offshore gravity structure foundations, including their analysis and design, are investigated. The results of an experimental study on the interaction of such structures with their soil foundations when subjected to wave forces are reported. The experimental tests were performed in a centrifuge at 100 g centrifugal acceleration with a 10-cm diam model structure bearing on a normally consolidated desposit of Santa Barbara silt. Therefore, the experimental test results apply to a 10-m diam prototype structure. The model structure was subjected to both monotonic and cyclic, as well as inclined and eccentric loading conditions; and its resulting movements (sinking, sliding and tilting) were recorded.