Experience from installation of two suction bucket jacket foundations in layered soils.

Suction bucket installation in pure clay or pure sand is well established. However, in layered soils, particularly in sand over clay soils, the soil plug uplift is considered a major installation risk and feasibility of installation is often questioned. In this paper, the experience from installation of two suction bucket jackets at two offshore wind farms in layered soils is reported. The installation at both sites was successful and no excess plug uplift was observed. The transfer of suction to the clay-sand interface is believed to have contributed to the success of the installations. The two cases presented in this paper provides confidence in suction bucket foundation installation in similar soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]