Vertical uplift capacity of a group of shallow circular plate anchors in sand

ABSTRACT

The uplift capacity of a group of circular plate anchors buried horizontally in sand along a line has been determined. The uplift capacity of an interfering anchor is presented in terms of nondimensional uplift factors, F_γi and F_qi, due to components of soil unit weight and surcharge pressure acting on the ground surface, respectively. Theoretical solutions have been developed by applying the upper bound theorem of limit analysis based on a simple rigid wedge collapse mechanism. In the case of two and infinite number of anchors, closed-form solutions have been developed for computing the factor F_qi, whereas the factor F_γi is determined using a semianalytical approach. As expected, the interference of the anchors leads to a continuous reduction in the uplift resistance with a decrease in the spacing between the anchors, and the uplift resistance decreases with the increasing number of anchors at a given spacing. The results compare reasonably well with the available theoretical and experimental data from the literature.     

Suction force below plate anchors in soft clay

The results of a number of laboratory model tests for the short‐term ultimate uplift capacity of a circular plate anchor embedded in saturated soft kaolinite and montmorillonite are presented. The tests were conducted with and without venting the bottom of the plate anchor in order to determine the variation of the suction force with embedment ratio. The variation of the suction force is presented in terms of the undrained shear strength of the clay and also the net ultimate uplift capacity.     

Simplified limit solutions for the capacity of suction anchors under undrained conditions

Upper bound plastic limit analyses (PLA) can provide a useful framework for estimating the load capacity of suction caisson anchors in purely cohesive soils. Since arbitrary assumptions regarding the soil stress state are not required in the PLA formulation, it may be used with greater consistency compared to other simplified approaches such as limit equilibrium methods. While PLA methods do not attempt to include all of the complexities of anchor behavior, they can provide a relatively simple framework for visualizing anchor kinematics leading to an understanding of the relative importance of various parameters on suction anchor load capacity. The most rigorous PLA formulations involve postulating a three-dimensional anchor-soil failure mechanism and deriving expressions for internal energy dissipation throughout the mechanism. This approach can involve extensive numerical integrations and a relatively complex scheme for optimizing the failure mechanism to obtain a least upper bound collapse load. Considerable simplification is possible if the problem is formulated in terms of ultimate unit resistances (lateral, axial, and their interaction) that can be exerted by the soil on the caisson. In this case, the caisson failure mechanism can be characterized in terms of one or two optimization variables. Simple expressions for the ultimate unit resistances acting on the caisson can be obtained from several sources including rigorous PLA solutions, finite element techniques, or experimental measurements. General expressions are possible by limiting consideration to common, idealized strength profiles such as uniform or constant gradient. Such simplified formulations are particularly valuable for providing an analysis tool accessible to practicing engineers. Suction caisson anchors can be subjected to a variety of load orientations including nearly vertical uplift forces imposed by the vertical tendons of tension leg platforms, horizontal loads imposed by catenary mooring systems, and inclined loads imposed by taut moorings. Recently, PLA methods have been applied to the analysis of suction caissons subjected to this range of loading conditions. This paper reviews the formulation of these analyses and summarizes the most significant findings.     

Centrifuge evaluation of the influential factors in the uplift capacity of suction foundations in clay

The passive suction of suction foundations plays a significant role in pull-out resistance. The factors influencing the uplift capacity include stress state, embedment ratio, and loading rate. This article investigates the effect of embedment ratio and loading rate on the bearing behavior of suction foundations using centrifuge testing. A series of uplift tests on a suction foundation in clay were performed using a beam centrifuge. During the tests, uplift displacement, suction, and loading rate were monitored. The suction was obtained by measurement of water pressure. To compare the influence of different factors on uplift capacity due to passive suction, two types of uplift tests were conducted; the first was on the closed caisson and the second was on the vented caisson. The results show that the pull-out resistance increased with an increase of the uplift loading rate, which was induced by the suction. The maximum resistance occurred when the upward displacements reached 14%D under a ratio of skirt length (L) to diameter (D) (L/D) of 0.5 and 17%D under an L/D ratio of 2. These findings provide a way for suction caissons to resist pull-out load or for structures to be removed from the seabed.     

Numerical analysis of suction embedded plate anchors in structured clay

As offshore energy developments move towards deeper water, moored floating production facilities are increasingly preferred to fixed structures. Anchoring systems are therefore of great interest to engineers working on deep water developments. Suction embedded plate anchors (SEPLAs) are rapidly becoming a popular solution, possessing a more accurate and predictable installation process compared to traditional alternatives. In this paper, finite element analysis has been conducted to evaluate the ultimate pullout capacity of SEPLAs in a range of post-keying configurations. Previous numerical studies of anchor pullout capacity have generally treated the soil as an elastic-perfectly plastic medium. However, the mechanical behaviour of natural clays is affected by inter-particle bonding, or structure, which cannot be accounted for using simple elasto-plastic models. Here, an advanced constitutive model formulated within the kinematic hardening framework is used to accurately predict the degradation of structure as an anchor embedded in a natural soft clay deposit is loaded to its pullout capacity. In comparison with an idealised, non-softening clay, the degradation of clay structure due to plastic strains in the soil mass results in a lower pullout capacity factor, a quantity commonly used in design, and a more complex load–displacement relationship. It can be concluded that clay structure has an important effect on the pullout behaviour of plate anchors.     

Evaluation of the uplift behavior of plate anchor in structured marine clay

The uplift behavior of a plate anchor in a structured clay (soft Ariake clay) is investigated through a series of laboratory tests and method of finite element analysis. The tests are adopted to identify the factors influencing the behavior of the anchor, including the thixotropic nature of Ariake clay, consolidation time, and embedment ratio of the anchor. A finite element method (FEM) is used to analyze and predict the uplift behavior of the anchor plate well in the elastic region and the yield load. The results from both the laboratory tests and the FEM analysis suggest that the embedment ratio for a deep anchor in Ariake clay is close to 4. Further increase in embedment ratio improves the capacity to a lesser extent. FEM overestimates the failure load of the uplift anchor in soft Ariake clay by about 20%. This may be ascribed to the hypothesis in the FEM analysis that there is continuous contact between the clay and the anchor until failure. Vesic’s theory for deep anchors, which may be used to predict the ultimate pullout resistance of the plate anchor in reconstituted Ariake clay, is verified to be applicable. In this paper, the plastic flow zone around the anchor is discussed using FEM which makes the behavior of anchor more understandable during the design stage.     

基于椭圆型滑动面的砂土中条形锚板上拔承载力计算方法

对于砂土中的竖向拉拔锚板,锚周土体滑动面的形态会随埋深比的增大而发生变化。基于滑动面连续演化的观点,审视了既有统一模型中滑动面形态表征函数的不足,在此基础上,提出了一种新的椭圆形态函数,并建立了相应的统一力学分析模型,提出了新的承载力计算方法。结果表明：新的形态函数能更好地反映滑动面的实际形态,承载力计算新方法也表现出了更好的适应性。     

Two-Dimensional Large Deformation Finite Element Analysis for 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.     

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。     

桩-筒组合基础在单层黏土中水平承载性能分析

桩-筒组合基础是将单桩基础与筒型基础组合的一种新型海上风电基础形式,其受力模式不同于传统桩基基础,优点是可通过合理减小桩长、桩壁厚等途径提高承载性能。基于极限地基反力法,提出单层黏土中桩-筒组合基础受力模式及水平承载力的计算方法。利用力加载和位移加载两种控制方法进行数值分析,研究水平承载性能的影响因素。结果表明,在一定范围内,桩-筒组合基础水平承载性能随桩入土深度、桩壁厚、筒外径的增大而提高。基于实际工程,对等用钢量的单桩基础与组合基础进行比较计算,结果表明,桩-筒组合基础可有效降低基础倾斜度和位移,提高承载性能。     

Behavior of a shallow plate anchor in clay under sustained loading

Laboratory model test results for the uplift of a shallow circular plate anchor embedded in a soft saturated clay are presented. For all tests the bottom of the anchor plate was vented to eliminate the mud suction force. The tests were divided into two categories: (1) short‐term tests to determine the variation of the net ultimate uplift capacity and hence the breakout factor with embedment ratio, and (2) creep tests with sustained uplift loads at varying embedment ratios. Based on the model test results, the variation with time, has been determined for the rate of strain of the soil located above the plate anchor. Empirical relationships for obtaining the rate of anchor uplift have been proposed.     

Vertical uplift resistance of close-spaced shallow rectangular group anchor plates embedded in sand

Abstract

This study describes an analytical solution for determining the ultimate vertical uplift resistance of a group of two and multiple number of close-spaced shallow rectangular anchor plates embedded horizontally in sand. The analysis was performed by using an upper bound theorem of limit analysis with the employment of the kinematically admissible three-dimensional (3D) rigid wedge collapse mechanisms. Results are obtained in terms of dimensionless uplift factors F_γ and F_q due to the components of soil self-weight and surcharge pressure acting on the ground surface for a wide range of parameters. It was found that the magnitude of uplift factors decreases substantially with a decrease in the clear spacing between the anchors, soil friction angle, and embedment ratio, and an increase in the aspect ratio of anchors. Further, it was noticed that when the clear spacing between the anchors is greater than or equal to the certain critical value, the interaction effect of anchors vanishes and the magnitude of uplift factors associated with a group of anchors becomes equal to that of single isolated anchors. The present solutions are found to compare reasonably well with those theoretical, numerical, and experimental results available in the literature.     

Degradation of lateral bearing capacity of piles in soft clay subjected to cyclic lateral loading

Abstract

In this article, the degradation of the lateral bearing capacity of piles in soft clay subjected to cyclic lateral loading is studied numerically. A modified kinematic hardening constitutive model is employed to simulate the degradation of soft clay after cyclic loading. The modified model is verified by comparing the numerical simulation results with the results of centrifuge model tests. Furthermore, the modified model is applied to numerical simulations for evaluating the lateral bearing capacity of piles in soft clay subjected to cyclic lateral loading. The degradation of the lateral bearing capacity of piles in soft clay after different cyclic displacement levels and different numbers of cycles is investigated. The study reveals that the modified kinematic hardening constitutive model can effectively estimate the cyclic degradation behavior of piles in soft clay subjected to cyclic lateral loading. The degradation of the ultimate lateral bearing capacity progresses slowly with increasing cyclic displacement level for fewer cycles, and the degradation develops significantly at higher levels of cyclic displacement after applying a larger number of cycles.     

Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Subsoils to Marine Pipelines

- Based on the theory of limit analysis, the Finite Difference Method (FDM) is established for evaluating the ultimate bearing capacity of subsoils to bear the unburied pipelines. The analytical results of bearing capacity of the ideal clay is given. The approach to bearing capacity evaluation of cohesionless subsoils without surcharge is suggested. The results from this method are consistent with those obtained from model tests.     

Design equations of uplift capacity of circular piles in sands

Uplift capacity of circular piles in sands is one important design parameter for many pile foundations supporting important structures subjected to tensile forces. Even though a number of formulas based on the limit equilibrium or semi-empirical methods are proposed to predict the uplift capacity of piles in sands, there is a major limitation of the methods in obtaining the accurate predictions. In this paper, the computational limit analysis is employed to investigate the uplift capacity of circular piles in sands. The effects of the important variables including pile length and diameter, soil friction angle and unit weight, and roughness factor at soil-pile interface are examined extensively using the dimensionless parameters while the predicted failure mechanisms associated with the parameters are discussed and compared. Approximate statistical design equations of the uplift capacity of circular piles in sands are developed based on the numerically derived solutions and the existing experimental data. It is found that the proposed design equations provide the most accurate prediction of the uplift capacity of circular piles in sands as compared to the existing formulas.     

均质地基上浅埋矩形基础极限承载力上限分析

基于土体塑性极限分析理论,推导一般黏性土地基上矩形基础承载力的上限解。为了证实上限解的合理性与适用性,采用大型通用有限元分析软件ABAQUS进行数值分析,并分别与Vesic理论解和Salgado et al理论解进行了对比。结果表明,推导的三维矩形基础上限解能较好地计算黏性土地基的极限承载力。     

海底管道沉箱基础的复合承载力包络面研究

当负压沉箱被用作深水管汇或管道终端基础时,其长径比常介于1～2之间,而目前的沉箱复合承载力包络面表达式大都针对长径比不超过1的情况,少数覆盖长径比大于1的研究又不适用于土体表层强度非零的情况。采用有限元方法,模拟竖向力、水平力和弯矩共同作用下沉箱基础的响应,采用Probe加载模式获得沉箱的复合承载力包络面。进行大量变动参数分析,针对长径比为1～2的沉箱,讨论了长径比和土体强度分布对单向承载力和包络面的影响,并给出了预测沉箱复合承载力的归一化表达式。     

Bearing capacity of shallow foundations in clay with linear increase in strength and adhesion factor

In this paper, the computational lower bound (LB) limit analysis using finite element with second-order cone programming was used to investigate the LB solutions of the undrained bearing capacity of continuous footing with a linear increase in the strength profile and an adhesion factor at the soil–footing interface. A full range of parametric studies of the dimensionless strength gradients and adhesion factors at the soil–footing interface were performed in the LB calculations. The results were verified by comparison with the available solution from the method of characteristics (slip-line analysis) for perfectly smooth and rough footings. The LB analyses were able to complete a prior solution of undrained bearing capacity with a linear increase in the strength profile by incorporating the influence of adhesion factor at the soil–footing interface. Based on the nonlinear regression to the computed LB solutions, an approximate expression of the LB solution regression was proposed, which is applicable to an accurate prediction of a safe load for offshore shallow foundations in clay with an arbitrary linear increase in strength and adhesion factor at soil–foundation interface in practice.     

弱超固结黏土中桩靴贯入形成孔洞对承载力影响

自升式平台作业前需对桩靴基础进行预压安装,使桩靴具备抵抗竖向-水平-弯矩复合荷载的能力。安装过程中,桩靴上部将形成一定深度的孔洞。弱超固结黏土地基中,土体强度较高,桩靴最终贯入深度较浅,而形成的上部孔洞较深,因此孔洞将对桩靴就位后的承载力产生影响。通过有限元分析,研究弱超固结黏土中桩靴上部孔洞对承载力的影响,结果表明:1)与无孔洞的情况相比,孔洞的存在对桩靴的单向和复合承载力有削弱作用; 2)当桩靴与孔洞底部距离大于桩靴直径时,承载力不再受上部孔洞的影响; 3)当桩靴埋深小于等于0.75倍桩靴直径时,无论桩靴上部有无孔洞,现有预测公式都不能较为合理地预测弱超固结黏土地基的复合承载力,为此提出了考虑孔洞影响的桩靴复合承载力包络面预测公式。