Allowable differential air pressure during offshore transportation of composite bucket foundation

Multiple compartments exist inside the composite bucket foundation (CBF), and each compartment can be adjusted individually to adjust air pressure. The CBF tilts and sinks because of environmental load during offshore transportation, and the differential air pressure between compartments produces unbalanced forces and deforms the bulkhead structure. Considering different influencing factors, the finite element calculation method was used to analyze the law of the allowable differential air pressure during offshore transportation. The results showed that the effect of differential air pressure on the deformation of the bulkhead is the key factor for controlling the differential air pressure. The maximum allowable differential air pressure increases linearly with increasing external draft and bulkhead thickness during the offshore transportation of the CBF and is more sensitive to the change in external draft. Finally, the optimal thickness of the bulkhead for different CBF conditions was obtained, providing technical support for engineering safety and economy.