Indentation of a Free-Falling Sharp Penetrometer into a Poroelastic Seabed

Abstract

A solution is developed for the buildup, steady, and postarrest dissipative pore fluid pressure fields that develop around a conical penetrometer that self-embeds from free-fall into the seabed. Arrest from free-fall considers deceleration under undrained conditions in a purely cohesive soil, with constant shear strength with depth. The resulting decelerating velocity field is controlled by soil strength, bearing capacity factors, and inertial components. At low impact velocities the embedment process is controlled by soil strength, and at high velocities by inertia. With the deceleration defined, the solution for a point normal dislocation migrating in a poroelastic medium is extended to incorporate the influence of a tapered tip. Dynamic steady pressures,