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Lifecycle vacuum engagement in suction caissons: penetration, preloading, and preservation

Objetivo

With the EU targeting over 300 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050 under the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy, the development of efficient, reliable, and sustainable foundation systems for diverse marine environments has become an urgent priority. Suction caissons (or anchors), steel hollow cylinders installed by applying vacuum, offer rapid installation, high flexibility, and low environmental footprint, positioning them as highly promising solutions for both fixed-bottom and floating wind farms. However, their full engineering potential remains underexploited due to unresolved challenges in vacuum-soil-caisson interactions across the caisson installation, plug consolidation, and long-term service. This Postdoctoral Fellowship (V-CAISSON) aims to unlock the lifecycle vacuum engagement in suction caissons by investigating how vacuum-induced seepage flow reduces penetration resistance and plug stability, developing and evaluating active vacuum preloading techniques for post-penetration plug enhancement, quantifying the contribution and safe limits of passive vacuum pressure to uplift resistance, and assessing caisson resilience under extreme cyclic and seismic loading. The research bridges geotechnical and structural engineering, soil physics, and fluid mechanics, combining analytical advances with cutting-edge numerical simulations and centrifuge physical modelling. The expected outcomes will deliver a new performance framework for suction caisson foundations that integrates both active and passive vacuum effects, reducing design conservatism and improving deployment confidence. By generating validated models, predictive tools, and design guidelines, V-CAISSON will accelerate the adoption of cost-effective and environmentally friendly foundation systems and strengthen Europe's global leadership in offshore renewable infrastructure, supporting the EU's Green Deal objectives and the transition toward climate-neutral energy.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

Palabras clave

Programa(s)

Tema(s)

Régimen de financiación

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Convocatoria de propuestas

(se abrirá en una nueva ventana) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF

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Coordinador

EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 292 118,88
Dirección
Raemistrasse 101
8092 Zuerich
Suiza
Región
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich
Tipo de actividad
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Enlaces
Coste total
Sin datos