Professional Documents
Culture Documents
of Jack-Ups
V (Karthi) Karthigeyan, Offshore Division, HSE, UK
Abstract
This paper presents methods for calculating the foundation stiffness to be used in the model for seismic analysis of
jack-up platforms. It also includes methods for assessing dynamic shear modulus and internal damping of soils to be
used in these calculations. The information presented is intended to be used with the International Standard, ISO
19905, Site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units part 1: Jack-Ups, which is in preparation. Guidance on
calculating and modelling springs and dampers in different directions or degrees of freedom or formulating the
stiffness and damping matrices are presented.
Key Words- Jack-Up, soil dynamics, dynamic shear modulus, shear wave velocity, foundation stiffness, radiation
damping, seismic analysis.
Introduction
Seismic analyses of jack-ups require the foundation for spud cans to be modelled as discrete springs and dampers or
as stiffness and damping matrices. These are calculated using the shear wave velocity vs or dynamic shear modulus
G, poisons ratio and mass density of soils below and around the spud cans as well as the natural frequencies in
various modes.
The first part of this paper contains different methods for evaluating shear wave velocity of soils. Guidance on
preferred methods are provided in the form of a flow chart. It also provides correction factors to be applied
depending on the accuracy of the method used. Second part contains methods for calculating stiffness and radiation
damping for vertical, horizontal and rocking degrees of freedom. Damping is due to energy radiating away from the
foundation in the form of shear, Raleigh and P waves as well as due to hysteresis energy loss or internal damping
within the soil mass. Evaluating internal damping is explained in the first part along with other soil properties.
Simplified expressions are provided where possible, together with cautions about their limitations. Expressions or
equations are provided in non dimensional form.
-(1)
1 2
2 2
-(2)
-1-
Symbol Gmax is also referred to as the tangent modulus. Normally in-situ measurements are carried out before the
jack-up is installed. Empirical formulae can be applied to the state of soil with or without jack-up load.
Symbols Vsd and Gd are used for the corrected values of shear wave velocity and shear modulus of soil. These are
used in the calculation of stiffness. Corrections applied to Vsmax and Gmax to convert them to Vsd and Gd are:
Higher earthquake strains
Increased mean effective stress m in the soil and
Possible increased voids ratio e.
Increased m and e are caused by the jack-up weight and pre load.
Caution
Some in-situ and laboratory measurements are carried out at strains higher than 1x10-5. The geotechnical report can
be expected to provide these details.
Methods
Fig 1 provides an outline of the method:
Using Undisturbed
Sample
(2nd Choice)
Measure S-Wave vsd
at earthquake strain
or
Measure S-Wave vs
at small strain
Measured Insitu
(Preferred)
S-Wave Velocity Vs
(or calculated from
P-Wave velocity Vp)
or
Cone Penetration Test
CPT
OR
Calculate G d
Gd = vsd 2
or
Calculate Gmax
Gmax = vs 2
&
Adjust to suit insitu soil pressures +
earthquake strain
Calculate foundation
stiffness'
kz, kh & k
&
Radiation damping
Dv, Dh & D
using software utilising soil
layers -Preferred option
Alternative
Calculate foundation
stiffness'
kz, kh & k
&
Radiation damping
Dv, Dh & D
using equations in
Fig1
In-situ Measurements
Most reliable measurements are obtained by in-situ measurements of s-wave. In the absence of S-wave
measurements, Cone Penetration Test (CPT) values may be used to calculate Gmax .
Shear wave velocity
Shear wave velocity Vs for different layers can be easily measured by geotechnical contractors using seismic cone
penetrometer. These are measured at small strains from 1x10-6 to 1x10-5. If P-wave velocity is available from
-2-
geophysical investigations can be converted to vsmax using the expression (2). In the absence of measured poisons
ratios, the values given in table1 may be used.
When both Vsmax and Vp are available from tests or geophysical investigations using the same strain range, can
also be used to calculated using equation 2. The values given intable 1 should be used with caution as the Vs to Vp
ratio is sensitive to at values close to 0.5 and can produce zero S-wave.
Soil Type
Poisons Ratio
Saturated Clay
Partially Saturated Clay
Dense Sand or Gravel
Medium Dense Sand or Gravel
Silt
0.45 0.50
0.35 0.45
0.40 0.50
0.30 0.40
0.30 0.40
Table1
Geophysical investigations carried out for hydrocarbon drilling purposes or as preliminary to geotechnical
investigations and they do not normally provide the same detail and accuracy with depth as seismic down-hole test.
Hence CPT results, if available in preference or the resulting values should be checked against and complemented
by those measured in the laboratory or calculated using empirical relationships.
Shear Modulus Using CPT Results
In the absence of shear wave measurements, Gmax may be obtained using CPT measurements using the
expressions:
Gmax = 290.6(qc)0.25(v)0.375 pa0.375 for quartz sand [1]
Gmax = 99.5(qc)0.695 pa0.305 e-1.13 for clay [2]
-(3)
-(4)
Where qc is cone tip resistance, a is the atmospheric pressure, v is vertical effective stress and e is voids ratio.
E
-1
2G
(5)
Geotechnical laboratories will also be able to determine internal or hysteresis damping from the frequency response
curve using half power bandwidth or by stopping and measuring the decay of vibration. Laboratory measurements
of S-wave or G should be reported along with mean principal effective principal stress m and strains used, in order
that they can be corrected to the in-situ values in calculating foundation stiffness.
(6)
Where OCR is over consolidation ratio, m is mean effective principal stress, pa is the atmospheric pressure, and
F(e) = 1/(0.3 + 0.7e2)
(7)
-3-
20
0.18
40
0.30
60
0.41
80
0.48
>100
0.50
Table 2
Values of k
Gmax / Su
Over Consolidation ratio OCR
Plasticity
Index PI
15-20
1100
900
600
20-25
700
600
500
35-45
450
380
300
Table 3
Sand
Gmax for sand is given by the expression
Gmax = 700 Fe pa0.5m0.5
Fe =
-(8)
(2.17 e) 2
1+ e
-(9)
Which is valid for round and angular sands for voids ratios e from 0.5 to 1.0 [5].
or
-(10)
K2
30
34
40
40
45
43
60
52
75
59
90
70
Table 4
Values of K2
-4-
Gravel
Gravels with the same relative density, exhibit slightly higher shear modulus than sands, hence It is suggested that
equation 10 is used for gravels, with values for K2 in table 4 increased by 50%. It can be up to double the values
given in table depending on the type of gravel. Seed Provides more detailed information on Gmax of gravels if
required.
-(11a)
Where c, fc and c are corrections for earthquake strain, and changes in Fe & mean effective stress respectively. If
G was measured at strains greater than 1x10-5, this value should be used instead of Gmax.
When Vs is used in calculations or as input, the corrections are as in equation 11b.
vsd = vsmax (c fc c)
-(11b)
Where
c =
0 0.5in service
-(11c)
0 0.5 whenMeasured
(Since G varies as the sq. root of mean principal effective principal stress, high levels of accuracy is not be
necessary.)
fc = Fe-withJackUp / Fe-prior
And
(11d)
Change in Fe is not very sensitive to small changes in e. It can be neglected, unless significant compaction or
consolidation occurs during pre-load.
Change in G due to earthquake strain is discussed in the next paragraph.
Correction for Strain c
Correction factor
c ( G/Gmax)
-5-
expressions, which provide the same results. These can be easily incorporated into calculations or programs and are
given below, in preference to the graphs by Vucetic and Dobry.
The correction factor c is given by:
c = K(,PI) mm(,PI)-m0
(12)
(
)
0
.
000102
n
PI
+
K ( , PI ) = 0.51 + tanh ln
(13)
And
1 .3
0.000556 0.4
m( , PI ) m0 = 0.2721 tanh ln
exp 0.0145 PI
Plasticity Index PI
n(PI)
PI = 0 (sandy soils)
0.0
0 < PI 15
3.37 10-6PI1.404
7.0 10-7PI1.976
PI > 70
(14)
2.7 10-5PI1.115
Table 5
If shear modulus, say Gint was measured at strains higher than 1x10-5, obtain reduction factor for both strains, ie d
(=Gd / Gmax) and int (=Gint / Gmax). The correction factor is d / int.
Method Used
Range for G
Range for vs
In-situ
-25% to +25%
-10% to +10%
Laboratory
-40% to +50%
-20% to +20%
Empirical
-50% to +80%
-30% to +30%
Table 6
Internal Damping
Internal damping is due to energy lost due to plastic behaviour of soil. It is small component of total damping which
consists of both internal and radiation damping, higher inaccuracies may be permitted. Radiation damping and the
method of combining it with internal damping is explained later.
Ishibashi & Zhang have produced an expression for internal damping as a function of c (or G/Gmax) and PI,
obtained from eq. 12 or other sources, which can be easily incorporated into calculations or programs and is given
below.
(15)
Alternatively:
Since Internal or hysteretic damping is small in relation to the radiation damping to which it is added and can be
assumed to be 6% irrespective of the type of soil or magnitude of earthquake.
-6-
a0 = r0
or a0 = r0/vs
-(16a)
-(16b)
where r0 is the radius for circular or nearly circular spudcans. For other shapes of the spudcans, the equivalent radius
can be defined by:
r0 =
4I
-7-
119 m
Maersk Gallant
at
Goldeneye
119 m
Maersk XL
at
Goldeneye
92.7 m
Magellan
at
Elgin A
79.0 m
Rowan Gorilla
at
Ekofisk
Horizontal Hz
0.15
0.13
0.12
0.14
0.36
Torsion Hz
0.34
0.15
0.27
0.16
Vertical Hz
1.5
1.3
1.7
1.5
2.1
1 st Bending
Hz
1.3-1.4
1.3-1.8
1.4-1.5
1.6-1.7
2.2-3.8
Mode
Table 7
Symbols
Fig 3a shows symbols used in the expressions used to calculate stiffness and damping.
HarmonicForce
Gs
Reaction
Fig 3a
Fig 3b
Kh
&
Ch
Cz
Kz
Fig 3c
Fig 3d
The stiffness Kz given in equation 18 is the real component of the reaction to the unit harmonic force on the rigid
mass-less disk, shown in Fig 3b. Cz is the imaginary component. Figs 3b shows excitation and reaction in the
vertical direction only. Fig 3c shows one horizontal spring Kh with the corresponding dampers Ch in direction X. For
most spudcan configurations, the horizontal stiffness and damping in the perpendicular Y direction will be the same.
This also applies to the rotational spring and damper K & C about X and Y axis.
-8-
K z = Gr0 (C z 1 +
Gs D
S z1 )
G r0
-(18)
and
Gr0
Cz =
.389
(C z 2 +
Gs D
S z2 )
G r0
-(19)
12
10
C2
a0
C
1 = 0 .5
0 .5
=
Values of C & S
0
a0
C2
C1 = 0 .2 5
S2
S1
0 .2
=
0
0
Dimensionless
a0
Frequency
a0
1.6
Fig 4
Horizontal Stiffness and Radiation Damping
Horizontal stiffness and damping can be calculated from equations 20 and 21.
K h = Gr0 (C h1 +
Gs D
S h1 )
G r0
-(20)
and
Ch =
Gr0
(C h 2 +
Gs D
S h2 )
G r0
-(21)
Ch2, Sh1 and Sh2 are given in Fig 5. Cx1 is 4.571 for = 0.0 and 5.333 for = 0.5
-9-
43
5
S1 = 0 .2 5
Values of C & S
3
S1 = 0 .4
0
0
S2 = 0 .4
5
= 0 .2
S2
C2 = 0 .5
C2 = 0
0
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
Dimensionlessa 0Frequency a0
Fig 5
0.2
0.2
K = Gr03 [C 1 +
Gs D
D2
( S 1 + 2 S h1 )]
G r0
3r0
-(22)
and
C = G
r0
[C 2 +
Gs D
1 D2
( S 2 +
S h 2 )]
G r0
3 r0 2
-(23)
- 10 -
53
4
Values of C & S
S2
a 0.
S1
a 0.
0.
0.
C1
1
C2
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
a 0.
Dimensionless Frequency a0
1.4
1.6
1.5
Fig 6
Horizontal & Rocking Coupling
Coupling between horizontal and rocking modes is small and no detailed guidance is given. Those who want to
calculate it can incorporate it within the stiffness and damping matrices, or if the foundation is modelled as discrete
springs and dampers as shown in Fig 3c, these can be located at distances Lk and Lc, below the spud can, effectively
extending the legs. Lk and Lc are defined in equations 24 and 25. When backflow is expected, the effect of coupling
could be reduced substantially.
-(24)
Lk = Kh/Kh
-(25)
Lc = Ch/Ch
Where Kh and Kh are cross and sliding stiffness respectively and Ch and Ch are cross and sliding dampers.
The extended members Lk and LC are normally modelled as rigid elements and they overlap with each other. In the
absence of a calculated values, the following, by Roesset [12] can be used to calculate cross stiffness and damping:
Kh = Kh = Kh (0.4D -0.03r0)
-(26)
Ch = Ch = Ch (0.4D -0.03r0)
-(27)
Where D is the embedment and r0 is its equivalent radius. In discrete modelling this extends the length of leg by
0.4D-0.03r0, which is insignificant for a jack-up.
Variable Coil Conditions or Soil Stratum Resting on Rock
Stiffness
For layer of soil with thickness H exceeding 2r0, Kausel and Roesset [13] have given the following values for static
stiffness for horizontal and rocking modes.
Kh =
r
8Gr0
1 + 0
2 2H
K =
8Gr0
r
1 + 0
3(1 ) 6 H
-(28)
-(29)
- 11 -
Kausel and Ushijima [17] have provided the following expression for vertical stiffness.
Kz =
4Gr0 1.28r0
1 +
1
H
-(30)
3
Equations 28 to 30 are valid for a0 = 0. The first part of these expressions 8Gr0 , 8Gr0 and 4Gr0 are the static
2 3(1 )
1
stiffness of foundation on semi infinite media and will give the same stiffness as equations 18, 20 and 22 and using
C1 only for a0 =0 and S1 =0. Scrutiny of the work by Kausel and Ushijima shows that equations 18, 20 and 22 can
still be used, provided the curve for C1 in figs 4, 5 and 6 are raised by the factors 1.28r0 , 1 + r0 and r0
1 +
2H
1 +
6H
respectively. Since this procedure does not take into account of variations due to reflection or resonance, the error
can be up to 20%.
For variable soil conditions Roesset [12] considers that it is adequate to use the adjusted shear modulus at depth r0/2
in stiffness calculations.
Reduction in Radiation Damping
Unless the soil properties are uniform for depths considerable greater than 8r0, the theoretical values calculated
using equations 19, 21 and 23 are not valid. Even for uniform soils, the dynamic shear modulus will vary due to
increase in mean effective stress with depth. Load from the spudcan will also increase it. Reflections from the
adjoining spud cans and other foundations will also reduce the radiation damping. Hence it is recommended that the
calculated radiation damping to the values given in table 8.
Mode
% of Radiation damping to
be used in analysis
Vertical
40%
Sliding
25%
Rocking
25%
Table 8
For Soil Stratum Resting on Rock, or other hard strata, Dobry and Gazetas [15] recommend that the radiation
damping is taken as zero for frequencies less than fs.
fs = Vs/4H
-(31)
Internal or hysteresis damping is normally expressed as a fraction of critical damping, whereas the radiation
damping Cz and Ch are expressed in dimension FL-1T and C is expressed in dimension FLT. Internal damping can
be converted and added to radiation damping using the definition for critical damping as follows:
Czt = zCz + 2z/z
-(32)
Where Czt is the total damping to be used in the analysis, z is the reduction factor for radiation damping, is the
damping ratio due to internal damping and the frequency z obtained from table 7 for vertical mode.
Similarly the total damping for horizontal and rocking degrees of freedom can be expressed as follows :
Cht = hCh + 2h/h
-(33)
Ct = C + 2/
(34)
Conclusion
Information from several sources were brought together in this paper with the hope of providing adequate guidance
to those without specialist knowledge of soil and foundation dynamics. The author welcomes any comments in order
that a more detailed guidance to be published by HSE, the authors employer can incorporate any improvements.
- 12 -
References
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- 13 -