A comparison of field and laboratory tests of caisson foundations in sand and clay

Laboratory tests applying vertical and moment loads to suction caissons founded in sand and clay have been conducted to simulate an equivalent series of field tests. The caissons used in the laboratory were 0·15 m, 0·2 m and 0·3 m in diameter, whereas those for the field tests were 1·5 m and 3·0 m in diameter. The loads applied to the caissons in the laboratory tests were scaled from those in the field tests, and the models were loaded in a near-identical manner to the field trials. The test results are presented in non-dimensional form for comparison. The non-dimensional laboratory data from moment loading tests were similar to the field data in most cases. However, the non-dimensional data from vertically loaded caisson tests in the laboratory and in the field show more significant differences, and possible reasons for these are discussed.