Numerical and experimental analysis of the extraction mechanism of an anchor plate embedded in saturated sand. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kanitz, M.; Hager, A.; Grabe, J.; Goniva, C.
• Is Part Of: Computers and geotechnics. Volume 111(2019)
• Page Start: 191
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: CFD-DEM -- PIV -- Extraction resistance -- Anchor plate -- Fluid-soil-structure interaction; Engineering geology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Soil mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Rock mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 624.1510285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.03.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-352X

Abstract

Abstract: Floating offshore structures can be founded on submerged foundations such as anchor plates. Their extraction resistance is of major importance during and at the end of the lifetime cycle. During their lifetime cycle, the foundation is suspended to complex loading conditions due to waves, tidal currents and wind loads and its resistance has to be known. At the end of the lifetime cycle, the anchor plates have to be removed from the seabed. The extraction resistance of the anchors is thereby a lot higher than the sum of its self-weight and hydrostatic and earth pressure. When the anchor plate is moved, the volume underneath increases. This leads to a suction until inflowing pore water fills the newly created volume. In order to investigate this effect, an experimental study at model scale with a displacement-driven extraction is performed. Pore pressure measurements are carried out at various locations in the soil body and underneath the plate. The soil movement is tracked with the particle image velocimetry method (PIV). In the conducted experiments different extraction velocities are considered to investigate its effect on the extraction resistance. Numerical investigations with unresolved coupled CFD-DEM are carried out and validated against the experimental results.