Finite element analysis of anchor plates using non-coaxial models

The non-coaxial model simulating the non-coincidence between the principal stresses and the principal plastic strain rates is employed within the framework of finite element method（FEM） to predict the behaviors of anchors embedded in granular material.The non-coaxial model is developed based on the non-coaxial yield vertex theory,and the elastic and conventional coaxial plastic deformations are simulated by using elasto-perfectly plastic Drucker-Prager yield function according to the original yield vertex theory.Both the horizontal and vertical anchors with various embedment depths are considered.Different anchor shapes and soil friction and dilation angles are also taken into account.The predictions indicate that the use of non-coaxial models leads to softer responses,compared with those using conventional coaxial models.Besides,the predicted ultimate pulling capacities are the same for both coaxial and non-coaxial models.The non-coaxial influences increase with the increasing embedment depths,and circular anchors lead to larger non-coaxial influences than strip anchors.In view of the fact that the design of anchors is mainly determined by their displacements,ignoring the non-coaxiality in finite element numerical analysis can lead to unsafe results.

Uplift of Symmetrical Anchor Plates by Using Grid-Fixed Reinforced Reinforcement in Cohesionless Soil

Uplift response of symmetrical anchor plates with and without grid fixed reinforced （GFR） reinforcement was evaluated in model tests and numerical simulations by Plaxis. Many variations of reinforcement layers were used to reinforce the sandy soil over symmetrical anchor plates. In the current research, different factors such as relative density of sand, embedment ratios, and various GFR parameters including size, number of layers, and the proximity of the layer to the symmetrical anchor plate were investigated in a scale model. The failure mechanism and the associated rupture surface were observed and evaluated. GFR, a tied up system made of fiber reinforcement polymer （FRP） strips and end balls, was connected to the geosynthetic material and anchored into the soil. Test results showed that using GFR reinforcement significantly improved the uplift capacity of anchor plates. It was found that the inclusion of one layer of GFR, which rested directly on the top of the anchor plate, was more effective in enhancing the anchor capacity itself than other methods. It was found that by including GFR the uplift response was improved by 29%. Multi layers of GFR proved more effective in enhancing the uplift capacity than a single GFR reinforcement. This is due to the additional anchorage provided by the GFR at each level of reinforcement. In general, the results show that the uplift capacity of symmetrical anchor plates in loose and dense sand can be significantly increased by the inclusion of GFR. It was also observed that the inclusion of GFR reduced the requirement for a large L/D ratio to achieve the required uplift capacity. The laboratory and numerical analysis results are found to be in agreement in terms of breakout factor and failure mechanism pattern.

Two-Dimensional Large Deformation Finite Element Analysisfor the Pulling-up of Plate Anchor

Based on mesh regeneration and stress interpolation from an old mesh to a new one, a large deformation finite element model is developed for the study of the behaviour of circular plate anchors subjected to uplift loading. For the deterruination of the distributions of stress components across a clay foundation, the Recovery by Equilibrium in Patches is extended to plastic analyses. ABAQUS, a commercial finite element package, is customized and linked into our program so as to keep automatic and efficient running of large deformation calculation. The quality of stress interpolation is testified by evaluations of Tresca stress and nodal reaction forces. The complete pulling-up processes of plate anchors buried in homogeneous clay arc simulated, and typical pulling force-displacement responses of a deep anchor and a shallow anchor are compared. Different from the results of previous studies, large deformation analysis is of the capability of estimating the breakaway between the anchor bottom and soils. For deep anchors, the variation of mobilized uplift resistance with anchor settlement is composed of three stages, and the initial buried depths of anchors affect the separation embedment slightly. The uplift bearing capacity of deep anchors is usually higher than that of shallow anchors.

Free-Fall Penetration Behaviors of A New Dynamically Installed Plate Anchor in Marine Clay

A new dynamically installed plate anchor, the Flying Wing Anchor~?, has been developed as a sustainable anchor concept for deep-water offshore wind turbines. The anchor is firstly installed by free-fall penetration and then followed by drag embedment. If the anchor is subjected to environmental loads, it dives deeper to mobilize a higher capacity. This study presents a series of free-fall penetration tests with model anchors in different weights to assess the anchor behavior during the free-fall penetration performance in one-layer soil with a constant shear strength profile. Anchor velocities and embedment depths were measured by a magnetometer. An energy-based model and a force-based model were calibrated against the test results of model anchors with different weights. Based on the calibrated force-based model, a series of design charts were developed to estimate the embedment depth of anchors in different sizes and with different impact velocities in various marine clays. The framework to plot design charts presented herein can be potentially applied to other dynamically installed anchors to predict embedment depth in engineering practice.

Experimental study on the stability of plate anchors in clay under cyclic loading

Although the bearing capacity of plate anchors in clay has been studied extensively, the results considering the effects of offshore cyclic loading are relatively rare. In the present study, 1g model tests are carried out to investigate the effect of cyclic loading on the bearing capacity of plate anchors in clay. The ultimate pullout capacity of plate anchors in clay decreases as the accumulated plastic shear strain grows due to the strain-softening of clay under cyclic loading. The load-displacement curves of these tests are presented and the effects of overburden stress and cyclic loading amplitude on the strain-softening behavior are discussed.

Six-Degree-of-Freedom Measurement of Plate Anchors in Centrifuge by Magnetometers

The six-degree-of-freedom movement of an offshore plate anchor is essential to evaluate anchor performance.As an emerging technology,magnetometer has shown its potential in measuring the six-degree-of-freedom movement of offshore anchors under 1-g model laboratory tests.The paper presents the feasibility of adopting a magnetometer system in geotechnical centrifuge testing.Interference factors that may affect the measuring accuracy of the magnetometer system are investigated.The results demonstrate that the magnetometer system can accurately catch the anchor movement in the soils with the restrictions of:(1)the model anchor was made with stainless steel;(2)the system was placed at least 30 cm away from the side wall of soil model tank;(3)started the measurement when the artificial acceleration by centrifuge was stable.

Dynamic Installation Behaviors of A New Hybrid Plate Anchor in Layered Marine Clay

Layered soil profiles create challenges for foundation installation and detrimentally affect the foundation performance.This research explored the free-fall penetration behavior of a new dynamically installed plate anchor,the Flying Wing Anchor?,in layered soil profiles.This new concept anchor combines the advantages of low-cost installation of torpedo piles and high efficiency of plate anchors.Anchor is initially installed through free-fall like a torpedo pile,and followed by drag embedment like a plate anchor.The methodology is to perform free-fall penetration tests with a model anchor in a variety of test beds containing marine clays with different profiles of undrained shear strength versus depth.A calibrated prediction model accounting for the effects of strain-rate and stiff layer produces results similar to those from the model test.The design curves were developed based on the calibrated analytical model,and are valuable to estimate the impact velocity thresholds of prototype anchor to penetrate through stiff layers.The free-fall penetration tests indicated that the penetration ability of FWA?increases with the increased impact velocity.This new dynamically embedded plate anchor can penetrate through the stiff layers that would cause problems for the conventional plate anchor,such as the drag embedded anchor,plowing on the top of stiff layer instead of breaking into it.Therefore,the new dynamically embedded plate anchor can provide a possible solution for layered soil profiles in deep water.

Elasto-plasticity and pore-pressure coupled analysis on the pullout behaviors of a plate anchor

A numerical method is proposed for the elasto-plasticity and pore-pressure coupled analysis on the pull- out behaviors of a plate anchor. The bounding-surface plasticity （BSP） model combined with Blot＇s consol- idation theory is employed to simulate the cyclic loading induced elasto-plastic deformation of the soil skeleton and the accompanying generation/dissipation of the excess pore water pressure. The suction force generated around the anchor due to the cyclic variation of the pore water pressure has much effect on the pullout capacity of the plate anchor. The calculated pullout capacity with the proposed method （i.e., the coupled analysis） gets lower than that with the conventional total stress analysis for the case of long-term sustained loading, but slightly higher for the case of short-term monotonic loading. The cyclic loading induced accumulation of pore water pressure may result in an obvious decrease of the stiffness of the soil-Plate anchor svstem.

Experimental evaluation of mechanically stabilized earth walls with recycled crumb rubbers

Traditional techniques for treatment of waste rubber, such as burning, generate some highly non- degradable synthetic materials that cause unrepairable environmental damages by releasing heavy metals, such as arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese and nickel. For this, scrap tires are used as light- weight alternative materials in many engineering applications, such as retaining wall backfilling. In the present study, 90 laboratory models were prepared to evaluate the stability of mechanically stabilized earth （MSE） walls with plate anchors. Then, the bearing capacity and horizontal displacements of the retaining walls were monitored by exerting a static loading to investigate the effects of adding different contents （5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt% and 20 wt%） of recycled crumb rubber （RCR） to the fill of a mechanically stabilized retaining wall with plate anchors. To visualize the critical slip surface of the wall, the particle image velocimetry （PIV） technique was employed. Results showed that the circular anchor plates almost continually provided a higher bearing capacity and wall stability than the square plates. Moreover, the backfill with 15 wt% RCR provided the maximum bearing capacity of the wall. Increasing the weight percentage of RCR to 20 wt% resulted in a significant reduction in horizontal displacement of the wall, which occurred due to the decrease in lateral earth pressure against the whole walls. An increase in RCR content resulted in the decrease in the formation of failure wedge and the expansion of the wall slip surface, and the failure wedge did not form in the sand mixtures with 15 wt% and 20 wt% RCRs.