Session: 10-02-02 Bucket Foundations and Suction Piles

Submission Number: 181414

Full-Scale Field Test on the Installation of Circular Steel Cofferdams Using Suction in Jebudo, South Korea 

Cofferdams provide dry, stable working conditions for construction in marine environments. However, conventional methods often require significant time and cost for installation and removal, and are prone to leakage. This study proposes a novel method for the rapid and efficient construction of a large-diameter circular cofferdam using suction-driven installation and extraction. As opposed to conventional suction bucket foundations, the upper part of the cofferdam remains exposed above the water surface, and several prefabricated segments are assembled to form a single suction unit. A full-scale field test was conducted in Jebudo, South Korea, using a 20-m-diameter, 13-m-high circular steel cofferdam. The test program included the design and fabrication of a suction cover and an optimized piping system. The key measurements during installation included the suction pressure variation with the penetration depth, leakage at the segmental joints, structural deformations, and inclination. The cofferdam successfully penetrated to a target embedment depth of 5 m at an average rate of 1.83 m/h and was safely removed using re-verse suction. Although suction technology has been widely applied to offshore foundations and anchors, this study is the first to demonstrate its feasibility for large cofferdams. These results provide a foundation for future offshore applications of suction-driven cofferdam installations.

Presenting Author: Seongho Hong Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Seongho Hong is a Post-doctoral researcher at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, South Korea, specializing in offshore structural design and suction foundation technology. As a young scientist, he leads projects focused on developing innovative suction-based installation methods for circular steel cofferdams in ocean and offshore environments. At OMAE 2026, he will share insights from full-scale field tests conducted in South Korea, highlighting the practical applications and advancements of suction installation techniques to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability in offshore construction.

Authors:

Seongho Hong Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology
Ju−hyung Lee Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology
Jun-Seo Jeon Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology
Jae-Hyun Kim Kangwon National University
Wan-Kyu Yoo Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology