Seismic response of subsea structures on caissons and mudmats due to liquefaction

This paper presents a numerical study to investigate the seismic behavior of mudmat and caisson foundations supporting subsea structures, such as manifolds, in liquefiable sand. In seismic areas, substantial earthquake loads can be imparted to subsea structures during ground shaking, threatening their stability. In particular, soil liquefaction in sandy soil arising from strong ground motions could significantly influence the performance of subsea structures founded on liquefiable sand. The results of this study can provide a better understanding of the response of subsea manifolds in liquefiable soil during and after the earthquake. Three-dimensional, non-linear, dynamic analyses are performed using a finite difference scheme, and the ability of the model to reproduce the site response of a saturated sand deposit is assessed using the results of available centrifuge data. This study includes six computational models representing manifolds with different sizes and weights supported by caissons and mudmats in shallow and deep liquefiable sand subjected to moderate and strong earthquake shakings. The response is evaluated in terms of excess pore water pressure generated in the soil medium and displacements of the subsea foundation during and after the shaking. The results show that manifolds may experience considerable movement during liquefaction and post-liquefaction settlements. In addition, depending on the characteristics of the seismic motion and structural system, the manifold could also experience large tilting.