Effect of seafloor instability on offshore pile foundations

Abstract

This paper employs a modified nonlinear boundary element approach to analyze the response of offshore piles subjected to external soil movements arising from submarine slides. Theoretical solutions for a realistic hypothetical offshore pile computed by the approach are presented and discussed. The analysis is then used to analyze the behaviour of two full-scale offshore piles in submarine slide areas, and reasonable agreement is found between observed and theoretical behaviour. Key words: seafloor instability, submarine slides, offshore piles, theoretical solutions, field tests.