Stability analysis of suction bucket foundations under wave cyclic loading and scouring

Suction bucket foundation is a typical type for offshore turbines. Scour caused by wave and current can reduce the stability of foundation and then endanger the whole structure. This paper details a series of suction bucket model tests performed in sand under wave cyclic loading. The model tests investigate the effect of scour on stability of bucket foundation by artificially excavated scour hole around the foundation. It is revealed that the behavior of foundation bearing capacity can be divided into two stages: the initial cyclic stage and the final stage (showing either cyclic stability or cyclic failure). When the wave circulation is stable, the sand on the front and back sides of the foundation is suspected to be liquefied. With the increase in scour depth, the stability of foundation is gradually reduced, the behavior of foundation gradually changes from a state of cyclic stability to cyclic failure, and the number of waves that can be withstood is drastically reduced. Finally, the height of the center of rotation of the suction bucket was observed to descend with the increase in scour depth.