Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics II comprises the Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG), organised by the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS) and held at the University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth from 8 10 November 2010. The volume addresses current and emerging challenges facing those working in offshore geotechnics, spanning construction, design and research. Keynote papers with authors from industry and academia describe the state-of-the-art of practice and theory. A further 117 peer-reviewed papers describe emerging research, new design techniques and recent case studies related to the frontiers of offshore geotechnical engineering. The themes of the papers include geohazards, gas hydrates, in situ site characterisation and pore pressure measurement, site investigation, soil characterisation, foundations for renewable energy, shallow foundations, jack-up units, piled foundations, anchoring systems, pipelines and risk and reliability. New and established design methods representing industry best practice are discussed alongside new construction technologies and emerging research ideas. Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics II provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art reference for professionals and researchers in offshore, civil and maritime engineering and for soil mechanics specialists.

Intermediate foundations are used as anchors for floating platforms and ancillary structures, foundations for steel jackets, and to support seafloor equipment and offshore wind turbines. When installed by suction, they are an economical alternative to piling, and also may be completely removed. They are usually circular in plan and are essentially rigid when laterally loaded. Length to diameter embedment ratios, L/D, generally vary between 0.5 and 10, spanning the gap between shallow and deep foundations, although these are indicative boundaries and the response, rather than the embedment ratio, defines an intermediate foundation. The first chapters introduce foundation types; compare shallow, intermediate and deep foundation models and design; define unique design issues that make intermediate foundations distinct from shallow and deep foundations, as well as list their hazards that mainly occur during installation. Later chapters cover installation, in-place resistance and in-place response, and miscellaneous design considerations. There is no general agreement as to which design methods/models are appropriate, so models should only be as accurate as the data. Therefore, several reasonably accurate models are provided together with comprehensive discussion and advice. Example calculations and over 200 references are also included. This is the first book dedicated to the geotechnical design of intermediate foundations, and it will appeal to professional engineers specialising in the offshore industry.

Design practice in offshore geotechnical engineering has grown out of onshore practice, but the two application areas have tended to diverge over the last thirty years, driven partly by the scale of the foundation and anchoring elements used offshore, and partly by fundamental differences in construction and installation techniques. As a consequence offshore geotechnical engineering has grown as a speciality. The structure of Offshore Geotechnical Engineering follows a pattern that mimics the flow of a typical offshore project. In the early chapters it provides a brief overview of the marine environment, offshore site investigation techniques and interpretation of soil behaviour. It proceeds to cover geotechnical design of piled foundations, shallow foundations and anchoring systems. Three topics are then covered which require a more multi-disciplinary approach: the design of mobile drilling rigs, pipelines and geohazards. This book serves as a framework for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and will appeal to professional engineers specialising in the offshore industry.

Design practice in offshore geotechnical engineering has grown out of onshore practice, but the two application areas have tended to diverge over the last thirty years, driven partly by the scale of the foundation and anchoring elements used offshore, and partly by fundamental differences in construction and installation techniques. As a consequence offshore geotechnical engineering has grown as a speciality. The structure of Offshore Geotechnical Engineering follows a pattern that mimics the flow of a typical offshore project. In the early chapters it provides a brief overview of the marine environment, offshore site investigation techniques and interpretation of soil behaviour. It proceeds to cover geotechnical design of piled foundations, shallow foundations and anchoring systems. Three topics are then covered which require a more multi-disciplinary approach: the design of mobile drilling rigs, pipelines and geohazards. This book serves as a framework for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and will appeal to professional engineers specialising in the offshore industry.

Intermediate foundations are used as anchors for floating platforms and ancillary structures, foundations for steel jackets, and to support seafloor equipment and offshore wind turbines. When installed by suction, they are an economical alternative to piling, and also may be completely removed. They are usually circular in plan and are essentially rigid when laterally loaded. Length to diameter embedment ratios, L/D, generally vary between 0.5 and 10, spanning the gap between shallow and deep foundations, although these are indicative boundaries and the response, rather than the embedment ratio, defines an intermediate foundation. The first chapters introduce foundation types; compare shallow, intermediate and deep foundation models and design; define unique design issues that make intermediate foundations distinct from shallow and deep foundations, as well as list their hazards that mainly occur during installation. Later chapters cover installation, in-place resistance and in-place response, and miscellaneous design considerations. There is no general agreement as to which design methods/models are appropriate, so models should only be as accurate as the data. Therefore, several reasonably accurate models are provided together with comprehensive discussion and advice. Example calculations and over 200 references are also included. This is the first book dedicated to the geotechnical design of intermediate foundations, and it will appeal to professional engineers specialising in the offshore industry.

This book addresses current and emerging challenges facing those working in offshore construction, design and research. Keynote papers from leading industry practitioners and academics provide a comprehensive overview of central topics covering deepwater anchoring, pipelines, foundation solutions for offshore wind turbines, site investigation, geohazards and emerging Australian frontiers. A further 125 peer reviewed papers introduce and analyse the critical challenges of offshore geotechnical engineering in the areas of the keynote subjects as well as piling, caissons and shallow foundation systems. The papers collected in these proceedings report a variety of numerical and theoretical investigations, experimental programs and field experience, with established design methods discussed alongside state-of-the-art practices.