A cone penetration test (CPT) approach to cable plough performance prediction based upon centrifuge model testing

TY - JOUR

T1 - A cone penetration test (CPT) approach to cable plough performance prediction based upon centrifuge model testing

AU - Robinson, Scott

AU - Brown, Michael

AU - Matsui, Hidetake

AU - Brennan, Andrew

AU - Augarde, Charles

AU - Coombs, William M.

AU - Cortis, Michael

N1 - Funding Information: The model seabed ploughing described in this paper was undertaken for the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded project Seabed ploughing: modelling for infrastructure installation (EP/M000362/1 and EP/M000397/1). The 3D surface scanning technique and centrifuge ploughing actuation systems were developed as part of the Scottish Marine and Renewables Test (SMART) Centre at the University of Dundee, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, Canadian Science Publishing. All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/10

Y1 - 2021/10

N2 - Cable ploughing is an important technique for burying and protecting offshore cables. The ability to predict the required tow force and plough performance is essential to allow vessel selection and project programming. Existing tow force models require calibration against full-scale field testing to determine empirical parameters, a requirement that may hinder their use. In this study the factors controlling the plough resistance were investigated using a series of dry and saturated 1/50th scale model cable plough tests in sand in a geotechnical centrifuge at 50g at a range of target trench depths, sand relative densities, and plough velocities. An improved model for predicting cable plough tow force that separates out the key components of resistance and allows tow force prediction without the use of field-derived empirical coefficients is presented. It is demonstrated that the key parameters in this model can be easily determined from in situ cone penetration tests (CPTs), allowing it to be used offshore where site investigation techniques may be more limited compared to onshore locations. The model is validated against the centrifuge cable plough tests, demonstrating it can correctly predict both the static (dry) and rate effect (saturated) tow forces.

AB - Cable ploughing is an important technique for burying and protecting offshore cables. The ability to predict the required tow force and plough performance is essential to allow vessel selection and project programming. Existing tow force models require calibration against full-scale field testing to determine empirical parameters, a requirement that may hinder their use. In this study the factors controlling the plough resistance were investigated using a series of dry and saturated 1/50th scale model cable plough tests in sand in a geotechnical centrifuge at 50g at a range of target trench depths, sand relative densities, and plough velocities. An improved model for predicting cable plough tow force that separates out the key components of resistance and allows tow force prediction without the use of field-derived empirical coefficients is presented. It is demonstrated that the key parameters in this model can be easily determined from in situ cone penetration tests (CPTs), allowing it to be used offshore where site investigation techniques may be more limited compared to onshore locations. The model is validated against the centrifuge cable plough tests, demonstrating it can correctly predict both the static (dry) and rate effect (saturated) tow forces.

KW - Cable

KW - cable plough

KW - Offshore

KW - Cable ploughing

KW - Sand

KW - Rate effects

KW - Cone penetration test (CPT)

KW - Centrifuge modelling

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85116453329

U2 - 10.1139/cgj-2020-0366

DO - 10.1139/cgj-2020-0366

M3 - Article

SN - 0008-3674

VL - 58

SP - 1466

EP - 1477

JO - Canadian Geotechnical Journal

JF - Canadian Geotechnical Journal

IS - 10

ER -