The Carbon Trust has published the Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) Suction Installed Caisson Foundation Design Guidelines, to increase industry confidence in the use of suction caissons.
This document brings together the latest understanding and research to provide clarity and guidance for engineers looking to design suction caissons for foundations in offshore wind. The guidelines provide an overview of the critical factors to consider when incorporating these designs and give practical support to engineers in order to manage the design process efficiently and cost-effectively. Suction installed caissons have seen increased acceptance in the offshore wind industry due to their potential for low-noise and quick installation, and suitability to certain challenging soil conditions, which enables them to compete on a commercial basis with traditional monopile and jacket designs. The guidelines were written on behalf of the OWA by an expert author team, led by geotechnical consultancy Cathie Associates and consisting of subject matter experts from the University of Oxford and SPT Offshore.