Inclined pull-out capacity of suction caissons

This paper reports a finite element study of suction caissons in normally consolidated clay subject to inclined loading. The optimum load attachment position and the corresponding maximum load capacity for caissons with length to diameter ratios of 1.5, 3, and 5 and a range of shaft friction coefficient are reported. Limit states are presented in terms of vertical and horizontal load (V-H) interaction diagrams and a simple unique expression is proposed to describe the shape of the envelopes.