A novel technique to mitigate the effect of gapping on the uplift capacity of offshore shallow foundations

A flexible mat was provided around the periphery of skirted shallow foundations – a so-called ‘gap arrester' – to assess the potential to mitigate the effect of gapping on uplift capacity. Results are presented from a series of drum centrifuge tests on skirted foundations with an intact skirt/soil interface, a gapped skirt/soil interface, and a gapped interface with gap arrester, subjected to undrained and sustained uplift. The results are promising, showing that the provision of an effective gap arrester preserves suction to larger foundation displacements and reduces the rate of displacement under sustained uplift, compared with the case of a gapped interface without arrester.