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

China Ocean Engineering - 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...     

深水系泊新型拖曳锚研发关键技术

作为深海工程应用中一种新型的拖曳嵌入式系泊基础,法向承力锚与目前新型的深水绷紧索系泊方式结合,在深水条件下的优势非常明显.综合比较了新型拖曳锚、吸力锚以及桩锚在施工、性能以及经济性等多方面的特点.提出了开展新型拖曳锚研发的若干关键技术.在对国外的实验研究现状进行综合评述的基础上,重点介绍了在构建新型拖曳锚模型实验平台方面取得的成果,涉及模型水槽、拖曳与回收系统、测量系统、模型锚板设计以及拖曳-系泊转换机构等关键技术.     

深水半潜式平台锚链倾角监测的自容式传感器的设计

深水半潜式平台系泊锚链的倾角变化是评价平台系泊状态与锚链受力的重要指标,是半潜式平台重要的监测内容。目前,深水锚链的测量主要是采用自容式的传感器,针对其水下长时间测量的应用特点,要求它的设计必须具有低功耗、高可靠性、大存储量、体积小、防水耐压等指标。根据我国南海流花平台的锚链监测需要,设计与制作了专用的水下自容式倾角传感器,并在实际应用中进行了检验。     

拖曳锚在海床中运动特性的大变形有限元分析

拖曳锚由于其承载性能和深水中便于安装被广泛应用于海洋工程系泊系统中,如:适用于悬链式系泊系统的传统拖曳锚和适用于绷紧式系泊系统的法向承力锚。拖曳锚安装过程中涉及诸多运动特性:锚板运动方向、系缆点处拖曳力和拖曳角及运动轨迹。基于大变形有限元分析技术耦合的欧拉-拉格朗日法,并引入缆绳方程,建立起锚-缆绳-海床土耦合作用的有限元分析模型;模拟了拖曳锚在均质和线性强度黏土中的嵌入安装过程,研究了锚板运动方向、系缆点处拖曳力和拖曳角及运动轨迹等运动特性;通过与已有的有限元分析方法及理论方法进行对比,验证了该分析模型的有效性;与已有的有限元分析方法相比,提出的分析模型有效地提高了计算效率。     

动力型鱼雷锚基本结构与特性

鱼雷锚(torpedo anchor)自1996年被巴西石油公司(Petrobras)开发以来,一直得到国内外的广泛研究,并成功应用于巴西坎普斯湾的浮式生产储油卸油装置(FPSO)等系泊系统中。本文在分析现有鱼雷锚技术发展现状的基础上,介绍了一种拥有自主知识产权的动力型鱼雷锚技术,并描述了其内部结构和工作原理。通过实验室模型实验展示了其优越性能,最后指出了其工程应用前景。     

土层预应力锚索在深基坑支护中的应用

全面总结了土层预应力锚索技术在广州地铁二号线火车站地铁车站中的应用及其配套技术 ,着重介绍了预应力锚索的施工方法、监控测量对施工效果的分析。     

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

China Ocean Engineering - 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...     

Reverse catenary equation of the embedded installation line and application to the kinematic model for drag anchors

The penetration behavior and trajectory of the drag anchor in seabed soils are not only determined by properties of the anchor and soil, but also controlled by the installation line especially the segment embedded in the soil. Correctly understanding and describing reverse catenary properties of the embedded line are crucial for improving the drag embedment performance, precisely predicting the anchor trajectory, and solving the positioning problem in offshore applications. The investigation on reverse catenary problems demonstrates that, the reverse catenary shape of the embedded line has to be solved almost through numerical incremental methods. In the present study, based on the mechanical model for the embedded line, the relationship between the tension and geometry of the embedded line, and the interactional equation between the anchor and embedded line are derived. By introducing the concept of the initial embedment depth of the installation line, the reverse catenary equation and the expression for calculating the length of the embedded line are obtained for soils with a linear strength, and the position of the embedment point can be reasonably solved through the derived reverse catenary equation. The reverse catenary equation is then introduced into the kinematic model for drag anchors, which combines the drag anchor, the installation line and the movement of the anchor handling vessel being an interactional system. More information related to the drag embedment problem can be definitely gained through the present work, including not only the anchor behaviors such as the trajectory, penetration direction and ultimate embedment depth, but also the properties of the installation line for both the embedded and horizontal segments. By comparing with drum centrifuge tests and model flume experiments, the efficiency of the theoretical method for predicting the anchor trajectory is well verified.     

Influence of Frequency on the Behaviour of Plate Anchors Subjected to Cyclic Loading

This article reports the response of embedded circular plate anchors to varying frequencies of cyclic loading. The effects of time period of loading cycles and pre-loading on movement of anchors and post-cyclic monotonic pullout behavior are studied using a model circular (80 mm diameter) plate anchor, buried at embedment ratio of six in a soft saturated clay. The frequencies of loading cycles have showed considerable effect on movement of anchors. For given duration of loading, higher frequency cycles cause more movement of anchor than lower frequency cycles. Pre-loading reduces the movement of anchors in subsequent loading stages. When anchors are recycled at a load ratio level less than the pre-cycling load, the movement of anchor in recycling phase are very much reduced, but if the recycling is done at a higher load ratio level, the effect is not that much pronounced and the anchors behave as if they were not subjected to any cycling load in the past. Anchor subjected to cyclic loading and then monotonic pullout shows an increase in initial stiffness, whereas the peak pullout load was found to decrease marginally over that of an anchor not subjected to any cyclic loading. For the present test conditions, the relative post-cyclic stiffness of anchors is found to vary from 1.169 to 1.327.     

Influence of Frequency on the Behaviour of Plate Anchors Subjected to Cyclic Loading

This article reports the response of embedded circular plate anchors to varying frequencies of cyclic loading. The effects of time period of loading cycles and pre-loading on movement of anchors and post-cyclic monotonic pullout behavior are studied using a model circular (80 mm diameter) plate anchor, buried at embedment ratio of six in a soft saturated clay. The frequencies of loading cycles have showed considerable effect on movement of anchors. For given duration of loading, higher frequency cycles cause more movement of anchor than lower frequency cycles. Pre-loading reduces the movement of anchors in subsequent loading stages. When anchors are recycled at a load ratio level less than the pre-cycling load, the movement of anchor in recycling phase are very much reduced, but if the recycling is done at a higher load ratio level, the effect is not that much pronounced and the anchors behave as if they were not subjected to any cycling load in the past. Anchor subjected to cyclic loading and then monotonic pullout shows an increase in initial stiffness, whereas the peak pullout load was found to decrease marginally over that of an anchor not subjected to any cyclic loading. For the present test conditions, the relative post-cyclic stiffness of anchors is found to vary from 1.169 to 1.327.     

Behavior of a helical anchor under vertical repetitive loading

Abstract

In the field of ocean engineering, anchors are used for several purposes. This article studies the behavior of a helical anchor embedded in soft marine clay under vertical repetitive loading. Helical anchors are simple steel shafts to which one or more helical plates are attached at regular intervals. The tests are conducted on a model helical anchor installed in a soft marine clay bed prepared in a test tank. Repetitive loading is applied using a pneumatic loading arrangement. Different cyclic load ratios and time periods are adopted. In each test, after the application of repetitive loading, poststatic‐pullout tests are conducted to observe the effect of repetitive loading on anchor behavior. From the test results, it is found that, up to a cyclic load ratio of 55%, there is no reduction in capacity. Instead, there seems to be a marginal increase in capacity and reduction in displacement. The reasons for this behavior are explained in terms of induced changes in strength and deformation behavior of marine clay under repetitive load. However, at higher cyclic load ratios, there seems to be reduction in pullout capacity of the anchor, and the reason for this is explained in terms of strain criteria. From this investigation, it can be concluded that the deep anchor is more suitable to a marine environment than a shallow anchor.     

Experimental investigation of the keying process of OMNI-Max anchor

ABSTRACT

The OMNI-Max anchors are newly developed dynamically installed anchors for deep water mooring systems. After installation, the anchor is keyed to a new orientation and position by tensing the attached mooring chain, which is known as the “keying process”. This study conducted 1g model tests to study the trajectories and capacity developments of OMNI-Max anchors in homogeneous and lightly overconsolidated (LOC) clays. A testing arrangement was designed to simulate the anchor keying process with a constant pullout angle at the mudline. A half model anchor which could move against the box glass was used to determine the anchor trajectory in the soil. The effects of padeye offset angle, uplift angle at the mudline, anchor fluke thickness, anchor initial embedment depth, and soil strength on the anchor trajectory and capacity were systematically investigated. Moreover, the critical uplift angle at the padeye and the anchor critical initial embedment depth were discussed. The results indicate that the anchor can dive both in homogeneous and LOC clays under certain conditions. A padeye offset angle of 24–30° is recommended for the OMNI-Max anchor to maintain high capacity and diving trend simultaneously. Besides, the anchor diving trend can be improved with small uplift angles at the mudline and with thick anchor flukes. A critical initial embedment depth of 1.3 times the anchor length is recommended to preclude the anchor from being pulled out.     

新型铰接式重力锚的设计及其性能研究

重力锚锚固是一种常见的锚固形式。为了能够提供足够的水平承载力,传统型式的重力锚普遍比较笨重,在上拔回收时会产生较大的竖向吸附力,不利于重复利用。针对此问题,设计了一种新型铰接式重力锚,并阐述了其铺设与回收方案。其次采用有限元方法对其整体强度进行了校核,结果均符合规范。最后基于模型试验,对铰接式重力锚在黏土中的运动过程进行了研究,进而确定了其在黏土中的水平承载力和回收时的上拔力。结果表明：相较于传统重力锚,新型铰接式重力锚在确保水平承载性能的基础上,能够大幅减小上拔力,从而有效地降低铺设和回收作业的难度,且可适应多种海底土质,但该锚型仅适用于悬链线式系泊系统。相关研究结果可为实际工程中铰接式重力锚的设计提供参考。     

组合动力锚水动力特性数值模拟研究

作为海上浮式结构物的一种新型锚固基础,动力锚具有自安装、不受水深影响、适用范围广的特点。在动力锚的基础上研发的组合动力锚结合了动力锚自安装和板锚法向受荷的特点,具有安装快速、适用多种类型海床、承载效率高等性质。组合动力锚在水中自由下落时的水动力学特性（下落速度、方向稳定性等）会受到锚链、尾翼宽度和助推器质量等因素影响。若下落速度过小或方向稳定性过差,则会影响锚的安装成功率。采用计算流体动力学方法模拟流体对锚的冲击和锚在水中自由下落过程,以优化组合动力锚的尾翼尺寸;其次研究锚链作用力和助推器质量对组合动力锚下落速度和偏角的影响规律。计算结果表明：组合动力锚的拖曳阻力系数为0.45左右,尾翼宽度最优尺寸为翼板宽度的1.25倍。连接在锚眼处的锚链会减小组合动力锚的下落速度并加剧锚的偏转,需综合锚的下落速度和偏角来确定锚在水中下落高度。     

Analysis Procedure of the Cyclic Bearing Capacity for Suction Anchors in Soft Clays

This article presents a procedure to calculate the bearing capacity of suction anchors subjected to inclined average and cyclic loads at the optimal load attachment point using the undrained cyclic shear strength of soft clays based on the failure model of anchors proposed by Andersen et al. The constant average shear stress of each failure zone around an anchor is assumed and determined based on the static equilibrium condition for the procedure. The cyclic shear strength of each failure zone is determined based on the average shear stress. The cyclic bearing capacity is finally determined by limiting equilibrium analyses. Thirty-six model tests of suction anchors subjected to inclined average and cyclic loads were conducted, which include vertical and lateral failure modes. Model test results were predicted using the procedure to verify its feasibility. The average relative error between predicted and test results is 1.7%, which shows that the procedure can be used to calculate the cyclic bearing capacity of anchors with optimal loading. Test results also showed that the anchor was still in vertical failure mode under combined average and cyclic loads if an anchor was in vertical failure mode under static loads. The anchor failure would depend on the vertical resistance degradation under cyclic loads if an anchor was in lateral failure mode under static loads. Cyclic bearing capacities associated with the number of load cycles to failure of 1000 were about 75% and 80% of the static bearing capacity for vertical failure anchors and lateral failure anchors, respectively.     

An Improved Method of Predicting Drag Anchor Trajectory Based on the Finite Element Analyses of Holding Capacity

Drag anchor is one of the most commonly used anchorage foundation types. The prediction of embedded trajectory in the process of drag anchor installation is of great importance to the safety design of mooring system. In this paper, the ultimate anchor holding capacity in the seabed soil is calculated through the established finite element model, and then the embedded motion trajectory is predicted applying the incremental calculation method. Firstly, the drag anchor initial embedded depth and inclination angle are assumed, which are regarded as the start embedded point. Secondly, in each incremental step, the incremental displacement of drag anchor is added along the parallel direction of anchor plate, so the displacement increment of drag anchor in the horizontal and vertical directions can be calculated. Thirdly, the finite element model of anchor is established considering the seabed soil and anchor interaction, and the ultimate drag anchor holding capacity at new position can be obtained. Fourthly, the angle between inverse catenary mooring line and horizontal plane at the attachment point at this increment step can be calculated through the inverse catenary equation. Finally, the incremental step is ended until the angle of drag anchor and seabed soil is zero as the ultimate embedded state condition, thus, the whole embedded trajectory of drag anchor is obtained. Meanwhile, the influences of initial parameter changes on the embedded trajectory are considered. Based on the proposed method, the prediction of drag anchor trajectory and the holding capacity of mooring position system can be provided.     

Behavior of drag anchor in clay with linearly increasing shear strength under unidirectional and combined loading

Drag anchor is a widely used economical anchor option for offshore floating structures. The anchor behavior under unidirectional loading and combined loading is important for anchor selection. The anchor behavior under combined loading, characterized by the yield envelope, can also be used for the prediction of anchor installation, which is still an issue in anchor design. However, most existing studies on anchor capacity are for plate anchors which focused only on the anchor pullout capacity in soil with uniform shear strength. The behavior of drag anchor under unidirectional and combined loading in soil with linearly increasing shear strength profile is seldom investigated. The current 2D finite element studies investigate the anchor behavior for a horizontal anchor fluke in clay with linearly increasing shear strength under unidirectional vertical, horizontal and rotational loadings first. Then based on the results of anchor unidirectional loading behavior, the yield envelopes for anchor under combined loading for both shallow and deep embedded flukes are studied. The effect of anchor embedment depth, soil non- homogeneity, soil overburden pressure and the soil/anchor interface breakaway conditions are studied to provide insight for drag anchor design.     

Stability considerations of an anchor dragged in noncohesive sea bed

The maximum holding power and the stability of stockless anchors dragged in non-cohesive media are considered. Forces and moments acting on each structural element of the anchor, such as flukes, shank and stabilizing fins, were investigated experimentally, and the results are given in formulae.The maximum holding power of an anchor depends upon its configuration in the sea bed. Considering force resultants and moments acting on all the structural elements, equilibrium equations are formulated and the configuration of a dragged anchor and its maximum holding power can be determined by solving these equations. If its equilibrium configuration cannot be determined under the surface of the sea bed, the dragged anchor will turn over as soon as the flukes come out of the bed. This instability will be called lifting-up.Instability phenomena caused by turning around the shank are analysed by considering the resulting moments acting on the anchor in a disturbed condition from the equilibrium configuration. From the results, stability conditions for lifting-up and turning are proposed for the anchor dragged in noncohesive media, and an anchor of absolute-roll-stability is realized by attaching a pair of proper stabilizing fins.     

法向承力锚极限抗拔力特性

法向承力锚是一种新型的适用于深海工程的系泊基础,其极限抗拔力是锚在工程应用中的关键指标。尝试用两种不同的方法评估法向承力锚的极限抗拔力,其一是基于塑性上限分析理论;其二是运用非线性有限元数值方法。与已有的经验公式相比,所建立的计算模型不仅可考虑海床土性质,还能反映锚板定位(嵌入深度及角度)以及系缆力角度对锚极限抗拔力的影响。在与已有评估方法进行比较的基础上,还特别对锚板的嵌入深度、角度以及系缆力角度变化对极限抗拔力的影响规律进行了分析,对三种方法的适用性进行了评述。