# Penetration Performance of Steel Cylinders in Sand Foundations
###### Abstract  
In order to study the effect of wall thickness on the penetration process of steel cylinders, we carried out physical tests and numerical simulations of the penetration process of steel cylinders with different wall thicknesses in sandy soil foundations, focusing on analyzing the penetration force and soil uplift during the penetration process of steel cylinders. The results show that the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach can be used to simulate the penetration process of steel cylinders. During the penetration of steel cylinders with different wall thicknesses, the relationship between the penetration force and penetration depth can be approximated by a quadratic function. The larger the wall thickness is, the larger the plug volume inside the steel cylinder during penetration. The research results can provide support for the design and construction of steel cylinders.  
steel cylinder; model test; numerical simulation; wall thickness +
Footnote †: journal: Applied sciences  
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center and the flow generated in the caisson cavity, [PERSON] et al. [26] proposed a complete numerical model and implemented it in COMSOL Multiphysics; [PERSON] et al. [27] established a three-dimensional large deformation finite element (3 DLDFE) analysis model based on the RTISS analysis method [28]; [PERSON] et al. [29] and [PERSON] et al. [30] used the calculation program they developed. The scholars above have studied the soil flow mechanism and the redistribution of the soil stress state through numerical simulation.  
In terms of theoretical analysis, [PERSON] et al. [31] proposed a method based on CPT to estimate installation pressures of a suction caisson in medium-dense to dense sand. The extended flow model proposed by [PERSON] et al. [32] can be used for seepage analysis of cylinder foundations with suction installed in layered soil. [PERSON] et al. [33] described the transfer of static load and the derivation process of the \(t-z\) curve of a suction bucket installed in cohesionless soil. These theoretical analysis results can well describe the resistance change of the steel cylinder during penetration. [PERSON] et al. [34] conducted penetration analysis based on specific construction examples, predicted the self-weight penetration depth of the suction bucket, mastered reasonable suction setting methods and the main limiting factors of allowable suction.  
In practical engineering, due to the influence of foundation conditions and other factors, the wall thickness of steel cylinders used in engineering changes, which leads to changes in the project cost and required penetration resistance, so it is necessary to study the effect of wall thickness on the penetration process of steel cylinders. The literature shows that there is little research on the penetration process of steel cylinder wall thickness. Therefore, this paper used model tests to conduct penetration tests on steel cylinders with different thicknesses and the CEL method to establish a numerical model to study the influence of steel cylinder wall thickness on the penetration force of the steel cylinder and the soil flow inside the steel cylinder.